A lot of what you're asking is going to come down to personal preference. All three of the options that you have outlined are great and will work well. I'm guessing your uncle first started using the Aimpoint when there were magnification restrictions in place. Now that you can use any magnification, I think it opens the discussion up for some different optics. Personally, I've never had the need for anything less than 3x, but when I'm hunting in tighter situations, I will usually have a see-through base on my guns, whether that be a rifle or muzzleloader. (My 30-30 and Accura both have see-through bases.) The red dot is a great optic for faster target acquisition, but you're going to suffer on the longer range shots. I know some areas in Utah allow for some longer shots, so if that's the area you hunt, I would lean towards the 4-12.