I'm Springer only except for a couple of pumpers and a few co2. When I started into this hobby ten or twelve years ago I ordered cheap Crosman springers then the Turkish variety mainly refurbs and Chinese clones and tinkered to make them better. After acquiring ten or so and putting cheap UTG and Hammer scopes on them it still wasn't as expensive as one of the better PCP rifles with the necessary accessories.
Then after I was given two german made Weihrauch rifles by a now banded member on another forum I discovered that quality definitely counts both on rifles, scopes, and pellets.
I've advanced in the hobby, acquiring twenty four rifles but now, 99% of the time, I shoot almost exclusively only six air rifles. A Diana 34.177, Diana 460-.22, Beeman R7-.177, Beeman R9-.177, Weihrauch HW50-.22, and my favorite my Weihrauch HW97K-.177. Those are fitted with Hawke Airmax scopes. I've found the preferred pellet in each of these and have purchased thousands of those pellets.
I thoroughly enjoy what I have now, and I think I'm satisfied with no plans to increase the herd.
The money spent early on, was a learning experience, the tinkering was fun and informative, now I just shoot and enjoy, tinkering when necessary.
I have no regrets, well only a few regrets LOL, but money well spent.