BH, There is something to what you say about the 7-08 vice the 7x57 and the 175gr bullet. But if I want to shoot a 175gr bullet, I have better tools. Availability of ammo would play a part in the choice. As I reload, I can't be sure but I understand that the ammo available over here is rarther anemic due to the number of old milsup rifles around. If one is interested in killing a deer with a 130-150gr bullet, the 7-08 will stand him in good stead. If the 7-08 was my only rifle and I wanted to go elk hunting, I'd load up some 160's @2600fps and go elk hunting. And wouldn't feel too limited.
I heard so many howls about how vastly superior the 7x57 was to the 7-08 --you know how the traditionalist are -- that I bought one. A Mark X, full stock, butter knife handle, etc. Similar, I think, to one of yours. I have nothing bad to say about it. The throat was so long that I couldn't reach the lands even with a 160gr bullet. But then I'm not a fanatic over that sort of stuff. My point is, I wouldn't sell any 7-08 I have in order to buy a 7x57 nor, if the 7x57 were my only rifle, would I sell it in order to buy a 7-08, but, if I were starting out from zero, with neither, I would certainly buy the 7-08.