Bear bows have been around for ever. They are an old line company. When archery was "young" as in hunting, Bear was a big name. Over the years archery has gotten really big .
Advances in technology has help the average person to get much better . More companies have been formed and with that more advances in bows.
All that being said, there is notthing wrong with Bear bows. Now they are one on many instead of one of a few in the early days.
Have a look at their new 2013 Bow catalog. Some nice stuff.