Would you buy an objective with scratchy front element?

I could buy this nifty two fifty reeaaal cheap.
Here is picture of the front element. (the objective still has warranty)

Yes.

if the price is really good for it, then why not.
I bought a 24-105 with the front scratchy as well online and it's one of my favorite lens.

I would have no problem buying a scratched lens if the price is right, but....... it's also harder to sell down the road(for any price). If you decide to sell, you have to convince/prove that it won't affect the image. Just something to consider.

If the price is low, then when it comes time to resell, use that price. We're not talking about an expensive lens here, either.

if it's cheap enough, yes. image quality should be fine.

Me no, I could never get past the scratch. It would just plain bother the hell out of me.

Depends on how cheap. I had a lens with a fairly deep scratch and it NEVER showed up in any images, not once. Not even at small apertures. But it did kill resale value quite a bit, so again, depends how cheap.

I might buy that one, but in general no.

I just bought one. I was extremely nervous about it. But indeed it appears all is well. If u can take pics at all apertures before buying just to be sure. AlsO check for other signs of a hard life. Could be from carelessness in putting cap, etc on or could have really been knocked around.

If you can test it first and image quality is fine, than yes!

It's interesting how you say that it doesn't affect image quality. I'd think that it does affect image quality, but maybe in a circle confusion type of way, in the sense that the scratch gets blurred out much like how we have brokeh at wide aperture?

... test shoot it or see if the seller will give you a x-day "trial period" where you can return it gives you problems? Just a thougt ...

I'd shoot a few test shots and then chimp at 100% to see if I could find any defects with the image. These aren't the most expensive lenses when they're new, so with a damaged front element it shouldn't be much. If it works well and you want it you might as well buy it.

Depends on the cost savings....But normally, no.