If you ever hunt through thick brush or climb over snowy ridges you will appreciate the lightweight and slim, handy carrying, tough as nuts durability of a lever action.
We still have my grandfather's 1916 mgfed Win 1894 .30 WCF. Not one part has needed to be replaced. It has hunted the thick forests of the Pacific Northwest for several decades, nearly 100 years. It has been dropped down scree slopes, dragged through rainforests, been used to whack a blind-charging deer on the head and it all still works and shoots straight. Not sure there is any blue left, mostly "in the white" and patina. During those decades it has often been a primary self-defense arm in rural homes.
Simple, tough, accurate to typical hunting distance, mild enough for beginners, perfect for saddle scabbard or carrying over rough terrain, fast repeater. And it has great nostalgia for anyone that grew up in the woods, around horses, or watched John Wayne.
While I greatly enjoy my Garand, AR15, and Savage bolt actions if I had to choose one rifle for hunting, defense, pest control and have it last for 3-4 generations with no replacements I would probably opt for the lever action. Fortunately though I can enjoy all of them.