I've yet to see my first Maven. I really need to try one out. IMO them, Tract, and GPO HD's all offer terrific value and great glass. We live in an era of great choices at most any price point. I quit chasing absolute top end performance (and prices) a few years ago as the differences just aren't there anymore, at least for me.
Great choices at great price points, that's right. I've never chased the very best, just tried to upgrade and spread my money across all the equipment that will make my hunt better. I like to upgrading all my kit to very good, instead of having some crappy gear, but then have one very, very, very good pair of binos. There are diminishing returns buying the best of the best when looking at a hunt like that. I'd rather spend the extra money on tags this year than upgrade.
I think $1000 is a sweet spot for binos, especially if you buy used.
Maybe I will replace my current "good enough" pieces of kit over time. But, for now the Razor UHD are good enough that I am putting the extra money to improve other pieces of my kit, and to buy the next two years worth of primers, bullets, and powder. Not hoarding, just buying barrels worth and what I will actually use.
A lot of the arguments for buying Swaro are not as relevant as they once were. Look at the Swaro SLC of 20 years ago. Its still great glass, but other manufacturers have been able to produce nearly indistinguishable glass. And, of course, Swaro still owns the top of the line with NL Pures, but the extra cost for the gains isn't as necessary to hunt for game at the ranges.
If you specialize in glassing for Coues, guide professionally, or paid for an expensive hunt, then heck yeah, get the best. Definitely worth it. If you don't, then spend money on other good gear. Expensive rain gear will do more for your hunt than that extra $1500 in glass.
$1000 can get you very good glass that will allow you to spot game AND glass for days without getting a headache. That has changed in the last 5 years quite a bit. Improvements in manufacturing have improved across the board. Factory rifles are built to specs that the barrel is good enough to shoot long range. Triggers, actions, etc. are the same. The biggest drawback are still the cheap plastic stocks, but those are basically disposable.