There are going to be several offerings in that price range. Most of the dealers here are making their ways back from shot show today, so responses may take a day or two.
I hear pulsar is coming out with some pretty awesome stuff at around that entry level price range. I'd hang tight til maybe sometime next month when stuff starts becoming available.
Look for the Pulsar APEX XQ38.
2-8X 384x288 17 micron. Very similar to the current XD50S. XQ38 will sell for $2,499 and supposedly available in the next few months.