very reliable if installed correctly

They have both builder models and deluxe models. What are you looking at? The builder outdoor units are very much like parent Carrier's stuff. Really hard to tell the diff. In the deluxe lines, in the lower SEER Arco has an advantage on features & warranty. At this point they don't offer anything like the Infinity/Evolution controls like their siblings so in the high end, if you are spending a bundle, Carrier & Bryant have an advantage now.