mrak, glad you got the scope and initial impression is positive. If you can, look at a chimney at least 700 to 800yds away. Compare how each resolves the grout lines and texture of the bricks. This is when the Sightron will leave the other scopes you mention in the dust. At LR resolving fine detail.....
As for manf, I am sure this is no secret that the infrastructure to make pretty much everything is in Asia. Within this industrial complex, a brand can source and spec anything they want to suit their product needs, goals, and price point. Most brands do not actually make anything or at least not everything. This is not a negative as it pays to draw goods from the best manf of any widget whether it is lense, tubes, knobs or boxes.
Manf EVERYTHING in house is no longer effective, efficient or competitive.
Sightrons are manf in Japan and they have speced superb components that are well assembled and engineered. The real world performance exceeds anything in their price point and challenges product costing much more.
In fact, since using these scopes several years back, I can see an improvement in the lenses with each year. If you consider a scope an optical device used for aiming at targets, you will find Sightron a brand worth looking through and owning.
Jerry