I initially wanted the GI lensatic. However, my wife bought me the 8099 for a Christmas gift. I have learned to really really like the thing, and think it's better for me than the GI model (never having used the GI model, I'm just speculating).

The problem is my "old eyes". I'm significantly nearsighted, and have progressive bifocals on top of that. The 8099 is nice because you can line up on your target, and then pull the compass totally away from where you were working, point it any-old-where, and still read the bearing from your targeting work. That is a lifesaver for those of us who cannot focus on the distant target, align the needle (or disk in the case of the 8099), and also read the bearing at the same time. Pictures I've seen of the GI lensatic make me thing you have to be able to work on all those planes of focus at the same time. If you move the compass from your sighting position, you lose the bearing with a lensatic. Is that correct?

I have not used a 8096 like the O.P. mentioned, but it looks like it would be similar to the 8099, but without the sighting mirror (the mirror helps these "old eyes" tremendously too!)