Well, I didn't do Paris Island but I did wear an AR to work for a rather long time. I use both. I make the first shot with a scope whenever possible due to its inherent accuracy and thus lesser resulting potential danger to the rest of the hunting party. I use open sites when the first shot may have gone wrong and a follow-up is required. Your point about the front sight is exactly correct - and why all too many shots under pressure go high.
What I despise is this blatant BS that one is somehow not manly enough if he goes "into battle" with a scoped rifle. I have been in battle, and even hunting dangerous game, isn't anything very much like a battle. It can be dangerous, but as I believe Ivan Carter once put it very clearly "we have the guns".
