Last I recall, not only Savage...but Winchester, Browning, Marlin,Thompson Center and Remington were all available through department stores, so I would presume that debate should already be settled. Although most of my hunting/shooting is rimfire, I own centerfires by Marlin, Savage and H&R, having owned others including custom single shots as well.
I have not been a huge fan of Remington, even though I have in the past owned and used some of them..that's just my two pennies and may not mean a thing to others. One thing that is hard to deny is the many unpaid endorsements by many who are regularly involved in the use and testing of the various rifles. ...And in recent years there have been a plethora of such folks that have declared Savage "best out of the box" ! Now with the accu-trigger as icing on the cake, they may just be the best accuracy purchase, especially dollar-for-dollar in the popular gun world.
I have heard complaints of the Savages being ugly, yet I consider them to be sharp looking..especially in the area of chamber to barrel transition (permits simpler barrel switches also). Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and I doubt any deer, bear, coyote or polecat is at all impressed with a "pretty" gun !
Outdoor Life has just declared a Savage rimfire to be the most accurate rimfire they have EVER tested in their long history and if you take a look at Savage news
www.savagearms.com/ ,you will see the new Palma competition model they have just introduced. I doubt they are entering Palma competition..just to lose..
Yes; for much, much more money there are several European brands with excellent accuracy reputations, but I lived in Europe long enough to discover that a large part of the hefty price on various Euro products is a result of hype and snob appeal...