If you want the "best" for that "wow" factor and pride of ownership, then you need to put out the money for Leica, Swarovski or Zeiss. If you want an excellent view but just a tad less than the Alpha's ability to do so, then the Kowa Genesis and Meopta will be somewhat less expensive on your wallet, but still expensive when compared to the rest of the field. The Kowa spotting scope, now those are top flight and priced accordingly and in my opinion, they are the BEST.
For most outdoorsmen, they have a hard time justifying paying big bucks for something they might use 5 to 10 days a year, when a much less expensive pair of binoculars will do what they need done relative to looking at objects a couple hundred yards away.
Serious hunters, guides, birders etc might have the perceived need for Alpha binoculars and will pay the price, which in many cases will last them for many years - for some, their lifetime.
Like crapshoot, I too purchased Bushnell then Steiner and after looking through a pair of Zeiss - well, I found a pair of used Zeiss FL 8X42 at a price I was comfortable with and that was that.
As you age the large binos such as 8X42, 10X50 etc - they seem bulky and heavy when walking several miles in rough terrain. If you like to take walks/hikes, use when outdoor concert going, camping, fishing, hunting (especially sitting in an elevated blind) - one should consider a "pocket" or compact binocular such as the Kowa Genesis 8X22 or 10x22, as they are small and light weight but will give outstanding perform in whatever arena you use them in. I also have the Kowa 10x22 and they are great and always at the ready in a pocket - no digging through a pack or having the bino strapped to my upper body, as to minimize floppy around.
You can obtain mighty fine binoculars for $500.00 - just don't expect "miracle views" from them. You do get what you pay for with optics but most wonder if that "wow" factor is worth an extra $1,500 or $2,000 extra from the bino cost they were contemplating - that's up to you.