By mounting it on a low-recoil gun, and by setting the turrets once and not constantly dialing up and down, you have probably eliminated two of the main issues that might arise with an inexpensive scope. Higher-end scopes probably also have superior seals and waterproofing, and generally more robust construction to withstand impacts and bumps. So what? On a big-game hunting rifle, that might be called upon to take a once-in-a-lifetime shot, I would always buy the best scope I could afford...for me, that means Leupolds. But on a pure fun gun like your .17, I get excellent results with less-expensive Bushnells. Keep in mind that your location is within easy driving distance of Bushnell's warranty center in Markham...the few times that I have visited them with problem scopes, they have replaced the scopes on the spot with brand-new models, usually superior in quality to the old ones. They did that in one case with a Simmons scope that was something like 20 years old, and had cost me no more than $40 when I bought it new! For the money, their products are good, and they will take good care of you if you have a problem.
AO? A nice feature, but not absolutely necessary. The AO removes parallax, which exists only when you move your head side to side, or up and down, relative to the scope axis. Keep your eye centered in the scope, and parallax is not an issue. AO can even be a hindrance in the field, requiring you to refocus to change target distances. Your .17 is easily a 100+ yard cartridge...so standard centerfire scopes are already well adjusted for you.
