I think you will be happy with the 7-35.... I was more concerned about low power than top end but it would be rare to find a situation where you couldn't make a shot with 7 power that you could with 5. And from your post you already know the important lesson of just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it. That is one of the problems with high magnification- shooters that just put the scope on the highest power and leave it.

The rev indicators are a little weird- but they work good and it does let you know what revolution you are on. Not a big deal but it saves you from having to dial back to your stop and then coming back up.

Also- it is blasphemous to put a vortex level on a Leupold scope :)