I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this option so far, but imo the best value by far in this price range is the Savage Model 10 for short action calibers, and the 110 for long action calibers like the 30-06. They sell this gun at Walmart with a scope for $387 at our local one, and $397 at some others. It's always under $400 though. These things are above and beyond most of the other budget rifles. It also includes the accu trigger which is a great factory trigger. This is very similar in price to the Marlin, yet a better rifle. I know quite several people with this particular rifle, and they all shoot very very well.
Some of them come with a Simmons scope and I've found these to be decent. IMO they are one of the better options for a scope under the $75 price range that you said you were interested in. I've seen some of the newer ones come with a Bushnell though, and the one I had like that was a total POS. It worked and stayed zeroed, but the adjustments and the glass sucked. So if you can get one with the Simmons, that's the way I'd go, if you get one with the Bushnell cheapo on it, I'd sell the scope and buy something else.
Reguardless though, I'd only use these cheapo scopes until you could afford to upgrade to something better.
The other good rifle in this price range as mentioned is the Weatherby Vanguard. While I don't like it as much as the Savage, it's also a good choice.
IMO I'd stay away from the Remington 710/770, Mossberg ATR, the Savage Axis/Edge, and all of the other similar ones. You can just get so much more from the Savage 110 or the Weatherby Vanguard for a similar price.
As for the Marlin, the issue seems to have been touched on above. The earlier ones got stellar reviews and seemed to be great, but as of recent the quality seems to have gone downhill. To me, it's no reason to take a chance as to if you'd get a good one or not, when you can buy a Savage for about the same price and know you will get a good one, as well as a better rifle in the first place.