I love 7.62x51mm/.308 Win for an all-round cartridge. My go-to platform for sending that load down-range is my FAL, which I love.
That being said, while the FAL is much cheaper to own, and parts availability is MUCH better, the FN SCAR-17 is an AMAZING platform:
Its light with GREAT ergonomics. Also I’m a HUGE fan of left-handed charging guns. It takes a bit to get used to when you’ve spent your life pulling the bolt carrier with your right hand, but once you get used to it, it MUCH better IMHO.
Of course the folding/adjustable stock is standard making it illegal in Massachusetts 🙁
I’m also a big fan of right-handed rifles with a charging handle on the left. My first rifle was a JC Higgins .22LR, which has the charging handle on the left. Until now I hadn’t heard of any others. Maybe it’s just me but I thought it was a more intuitive design since that meant you didn’t have to move your right hand to chamber the first round.
There are a lot more than you think. The Germans were big on it. The Stg44 had a left-side charging handle, and its successor the G3, and all its relatives were left-side charging. Its main competition the FAL is a left-side gun.
Now ambi the the name of the game. So the SCAR, and its damn-near-lookalike cousin the ACR both can switch the handle to either side of the op rod. The G36 rifle family has an ambi-handle under the carry handle. Of course the AR10/15 family has the charging handle in the rear where you can use either hand (I use my left).