With the Apex, you are buying a "firearm" in the eyes of the ATF, and after purchase with background check, you can put any barrel you want on it. Like the TC's the barrels are supposed to drop in, but also like the TC's, sometimes they don't and require a bit of fitting.
At $299.00 for a barrel, they are also in the price point with TC, and well above H&R.
Different strokes for different folks makes the world go around.
I've stuck with the H&R's.
Ben