This is a sore point with me. I prefer the laser due to the fact that they are so convenient, easy to use, fast, and portable. The optical kinds are a pain in the neck in my opinion. The draw back with laser units is that they just don't work for the serious long range shooter. I have the Yardage pro 1000 and it is very good out to about 650 yards but beyond that the conditions have to be perfect. In other words, much of the time it won't do what I need it to. This is true of all commercial laser units that I have heard of.
This leaves long range shooters with 2 options. First, the opticals. They are consistant in any condition and will range as far as you can shoot. The problem is that they are cumbersome, time consuming, not as portable and just all around inconvenient.
Your other option, and best I believe, would be the Russian laser that Darryl uses. Excellent in all regards with the exception of price. With a price tag of a whopping 3 grand, they are WAY out of my price range.
I have already decided that I will be forced to buy a Barr & Stroud to range the distnces I plan to shoot. Wish I had never even heard about the Russian, oh well, maybe someday.