Only a couple of the Arc'teryx jackets reach up into the $600+ range, everyone just focuses on those products when cost comes up to overexaggerate things. The majority of their products aren't priced too far off other top brands. I've found most people who complain about the price of the higher end brands usually don't balk at spending 2-3k on a kitted out rifle, yet when it comes to keeping warm in the winter all of a sudden their budget shrinks to Wal-Mart level.
I have two TAD jackets, a stealth hoodie and an older fleece jacket (Not the ranger). They have held up very well for the 6 years i've had them and I often layer them in bad weather and have been using this combo with good results. I've put them through many winters and they've kept me warm time after time. The one complaint I have with them is their obsession with using two-way zippers on the jackets. These are weak and I generally end up blowing out the zippers or getting them misaligned when zipping up the jacket. I've found that after 2-3 years of use they just don't work that well and have worn out. I had a local shop replace the zipper in my Stealth jacket with a metal one-way zipper and it works great and is very easy to use when i'm in a hurry. Hopefully it holds up over time. Arc'teryx seems to like one-way zippers so that's a pretty huge plus in my book but their pocket layouts don't quite work for me as well, so it's a personal preference. I'm contemplating getting a Talus LT in the next year or so as an alternative to the Stealth, but that's mostly due to the increased length when wading through snow and to give me a little more capability in colder weather.
I really like the TAD pocket layouts though. The duckbill pocket on my back is great for storing gloves, a balaclava, or a cap for winter, and is very easy to access. I also like the cut of the jackets though when wearing them with a duty belt and armor. I could stand for the length to be a bit longer like some of the Arc'teryx hardshells, but i'm not sure if the TAD hardshells remedy this as I have no experience with them. I've heard bad things about TAD as a company, but never experienced it for myself. The people have always been nice to me and the customer service has been great. I do find the TAD gear fanboys a bit much to take at times, but the products seem to work well for me.
I will also add that I owned the Force 10 cargo pants for about 10 minutes before boxing them back up and sending them back. Buttons on pockets do not work for me and were an immediate deal-breaker. I've recently switched to Vertx pants and am liking them a lot for when i'm not wearing my Crye pants (which are epic btw).
Overall i'd say find out what pocket layout works the best for your needs and determine how you'll be using the jacket. Will it be used with other gear or equipment? What kinds of weather? Will it be layered with other clothing? etc..