I do not like "busy" reticles either, but here is what I have "discovered" about the Swaro circle dot.
The reticle is in the first focal plane.
on low power, especially when in a hurry my eye naturally used the circle.
As power increases, and the shot is farther away my eye naturally used the dot.
I have shot well over a hundred animals with this scope, from stuff small as a guiennea fowl, turkey, bobcat and wild pigs at under 20 yards, to kudu at a little over 300.
This includes cape buff and around 25 zebras.
In fact I like this scope so well I have 2 others.
At night, in low light, or bad shadows, the illuminated feature is awsome.
If a person just cannot go with the illuminated circle dot reticle, then the S&B flash dot is a good one as well.