Thanks guys for all of your input. I definitely want a mid-length gas system, and embarrassingly enough, had forgotten about that decision (made months ago when I first started looking into AR's) when I started shopping around again. I don't necessarily have anything against the M&P 15, although it looks to have a "carbine" gas system which would nix it from my list of options. Daniel Defense is far out of my price range, as I promised the old lady to stay around a grand, if not less.
