Fair question:
FOR VARIABLE SCOPES: First plus is for us old timers that age caught up to and our eyes are not what they use to be. Our old eyes just cannot focus on 3 objects (rear sight, front sight and target/animal down range) at the same time and see clearly. A scope, even a 1x power changes this. Even eye glass do not help. they are set up for close or far and one or the other is not clear. I believe variable scopes do provide a much clearer and closer picture for sighting and picking the spot, which I believe results in more lethal kill shots. I for one have not increased my shooting distance with the muzzleloader from before and as stated before, both my longest shots on elk and deer was with my 25+ year old white muzzleloader with a red dot.
However, stating that I know there are those that have taken the magnification scopes and custom built muzzleloaders to the extreme and shoot farther just like the long range rifle shooter do (because they believe they can and some just have that ego and have to state they shot there game at (XXX) range rather then state they used their hunting and stalking skills to put them self in a much better position for a clean ethical kill shot. Nobody can truly believe/state that at extended ranges there are numerous variables that can go wrong (distance, wind, bullet drop, cross winds that totally change directions over distance, bullet and energy performance at extreme ranges. The Gunwork boys TV show does not show them killing animals at 50-100 yards. That is not what they are selling. They show long range shots 500-1600 yards. Unfortunately a lot of people believe they can do the same by just buying the equipment and it's a done deal. How many animals get hit at extreme distances and show no sigh of a hit and walk over the hill or out of sight and died without the shooter even going over to check it out. We all know a lot of them don't walk two and three canyons over to check it out. We also know that finding the same spot where the animal was standing when you shot at it across a draw at even 200-400 yards takes practice and experience. It all looks different from the other side.
FOR GOING BACK TO 1X SCOPES OR OPEN SIGHTS: I never had a problem back in the days before the DWR changed this against so many of us hunters opinions. I have no problem going back. Yes it cost us to move forward and will now cost again to move back. It is all good and as stated before I will help out my boys and family with expenses to comply with what the changes are. Hopefully the DWR gets it right and things don't change ever few years.
Like stated before, a lot of us were not in favor of the magnification changes when the DWR approved them. They were not necessary at the time and in my opinion changed the muzzy hunt for the negative. Over all pleasure of the hunt was impacted in my opinion (over all self pleasure, more road hunters and people busting a stalk with a lob shot, ect).
My number one objection is it made the draw success worst because a lot of people bought there top end custom rifles and scopes and moved over from the rifle season.