The Torrey Pines scope is supposedly coming in at about $700USD, so even more of a scary decision for rats only. But hey, compared to the prices of good thermal gear they've been using in the UK for rat control that price is a bargain. The average professional level kit in England goes for the equivalent of about $4,000, with some as high as $10,000. I've been using a heavily modified Carson Mini Aura NV-200 behind a cheap 3x scope for rats, and out to about 15 metres it's been fine. But to see the rats I have to see their eyes. If they don't happen to be looking at me, the infrared monochrome video feed often has their fur blending in with grass or other backgrounds, even up in the trees they can look like just another leaf.
But with thermal a rat jumps out as a bright spot no matter what the angle or how little of it is exposed. Even a nose is enough to get me looking for a safe shot. Though I'm not a professional exterminator, I have a strong aversion to rats taking over my house. It'll be about $1,000 Canadian when it gets here, but I earn that in 20 hours so I'm not too worried about it. And as a bonus, the Torrey Pines thermal works just as well in full daylight, so I can use it on grey squirrels! Actually the infrared setup I've built works great on those too, the illuminator turned off, as leaves turn bright white and squirrels turn dark regardless of fur variations (they range from light grey to solid black here, all variations on Eastern Greys which were introduced by two men a century ago in Vancouver) and their eyes stand out nicely, but thermal will further enhance that difference. Most thermal units burn out in sunlight, but not this TP stuff. Already the little spotter has proven very useful in finding a grey among foliage where they can often blend in.
If a thermal scope could be had for a similar price to a good optical scope, like my Burris 2-7x rimfire or Leupold 2-7x VX-1, of course I'd be happier with that. But the tech is still rather immature. Give it another decade and it'll be about the same price, and every smartphone will have thermal built in.