Only owned the Burris.
Yes - rain, mud, dew, snow, grass, dust and any combination of them can get all over the glass and can/will obstruct view. Seemed to be durable, the metal shroud is not a bad idea. If you drop the gun on a hard surface and it lands on the scope it will break it. The shroud would prevent it. I did not have the shroud and had no durability issues when I used it. It sights in just as easy as a regular scope.