Yes, I know the major players, Colt, S&W, Bushmaster, etc. but are there good guns outside of this elite group?
Bushmaster doesn't belong with the others.
Daniel Defense, Bravo Company Manufacturing, S&W, Charles Daly Defense, Lewis Machine and Tool, Noveske, Knight's Armament, Sabre Defense, Colt. You should find something there that satisfies your budget and tastes.
I'm the kind of person who appreciates quality and requires it.
A lot of people will say DPMS, Olympic, Bushmaster, Rock River, CMMG, Armalite...those are guns built to a lower price point. They may be very accurate. They are generally somewhat lower cost than the first set of brands I listed. Some rifles of the brands may even be reliable, but I don't trust any of them. I'm not a brand fan, I don't care what it says outside of my rifle (within my limits) but I care very much about what's inside. All ARs are not created equal. It is not Ford/Chevy/Dodge.
If you want a target AR-15, buy whatever you want.
If you want an AR-15 that's ultra reliable...well, I've given you the information.
There is no reason to buy from the lower brands when the high quality brands are at the prices they are these days. $100 can make a lot of difference in what you go home with.