Well, a good lasting optic is something I would be willing to squirrel away for if I have to. It's not something I'm looking to have by next week, but long term buying a $5-$10 loupe every 3-6 months is going to get old quick.

I went ahead and ordered a Carson pocket scope like I often see recommended, that at least looks a little sturdier than most of the loupes.

But that still seems like a temporary thing. I've often wondered the same, I'll probably check with him and see what he's using. I wasn't necessarily thinking about being able to take photos and show the world how bad my honing is, but if I came across a problem and needed to reach out to someone more experienced for a solution it could come in handy.