I'm definitely not an elitist, and wholeheartedly agree that we buy what fits the budget.
I have a few nicer scopes, but some that are pretty modest, but functional.
I would take the money one would spend on a high mag, bells and whistles type cheap scope and put it toward a 3 to 9 power Bushnell or one of the other lower cost scopes. You'll get more for your money there than you will with the high mag variables, especially the lighted reticle versions.
Dan