Well,I've had several AR 15's over the years,and have never had a problem out of any of my RRA's.Other than ammo,or magazine related.
As you state later in your post, you shoot for groups with your handloads. You don't run your ARs hard, so you're making that statement from a weak position.
If your into loosing accuracy,go ahead and buy your chrome lined barreled whatever brand tactical wannabe acting like a soldier AR15.Unless,you are using an AR15 for your job,and I don't recall too many non LEO or Armed Forces jobs that need one for work.There's no need in a chrome lined barrel... Most people that own AR's shoot the cheapest ammo that they can find-55gr FMJ,so there's no need in having a 1-7 twist barrel.
Well, a 1:7 twist barrel will stabilize 55gr FMJ just as well as a 1:12 (per US Army FM 23-9), so why not get the 1:7, and keep the option open to shoot ony of the the 75gr and 77gr stuff if you want? Other than Federal XM193 (which is rejected if it won't hold MOA at 200 yards
http://le.atk.com/pdf/XM193.pdf), cheap 55 gr FMJ is dirty, and not an MOA load to start with; so the chrome lined barrel loses no appreciable accuracy, and is far easier to clean. The chrome lined chamber also eases extraction with this dirty ammo. When we get into steel cased ammo tougher extractors, and proper extractor springs & inserts become more of a factor; this again leads to a higher quality rifle being the way to go to shoot really cheap ammo.
And a 1-9 will shoot up to a 69gr all day long.They even have a 75gr bullet from Hornady if you reload for a 1-9 twist.I have quite a few boxes of them setting on the shelf.
A 1:8 or 1:7 twist barrel will stabilize that same Hornady bullet at a much wider range of RH, temp, and altitude than a 1:9 twist. Also, Hornady is the only company that states a 1:9 twist .223 or 5.56 bbl will stabilize their 75 grainers. Everyone else says to use 1:8 or faster.
I currently have 2 RRA guns,a 20" Varminter 1-8 twist,and a 458 SOCOM.I've had the Varminter for several years and it shoots sub-moa all day long with handloads.I've never had any problems or malfunctions out of it. The 458 is fairly new,but it is very reliable,and fun as hell to shoot.
You talk about the average guy your whole post, but then you reveal you shoot .458 SOCOM, and handload for your .223 AR. Neither of those are things the average guy does.
While we're on this little part of your post, are you a sniper or Squad Designated Marksman wannabe? You assert that everyone who likes properly assembled carbines must be a commando wannabe. You like shooting sub MOA groups from your semi-auto rifle, so I can only conclude that you are a sniper or SDM wannabe. See how that works?
Are there better AR's out there,Yes.
This is true, and they're also available for the same price or less than rifles from RRA. This brings us back to the question, why pay more money(buy an RRA), for less rifle?
Will they perform better for the average guy that buy's an AR,Probably not.
If you read my statements above in regards to the advantages of having a chrome lined bore & chamber, and properly assembled bolt when shooting cheap ammo (which is what you assert the average guy does with an AR), then actually the better ARs will perform better for the average guy.