IMO it probably depends on what the "normal" situations are where you spotlight... how far your spot reaches eyes, how far it lights the animal, how close coyotes normally come in or do they often hang up long, how often do you get runners long or short, how open or closed is the cover, does the shooter also run the spot and call, etc.
Where I live a red dot might come in handy sometimes, but not often enough to use one on any of my main firearms. Too may shots are on the long side or beyond a red dot for good shot placement, or in fairly heavy cover. Maybe a red dot on the back up shotgun for close quarters runners is a thought though. Since I always call alone I also have to run spots & mouth calls myself. So I use a truck spot to locate eyes way out, then switch to scope mounted spots for the track and shot.
IMO for the ranges a 17HMR would be practical, generally a lower magnification variable (1-4, 2-7, 3-9) is better suited in most circumstances around here than a red dot would be. At some of the ranches I hunted, a 4X or 6X was plenty (again for 17HMR ranges). I especially like scopes with converging point crosshairs for predator hunting, night or day.
IMO - YMMV
