Yeah, I guess they are. I don't have any experience with Savage centrefire rifles but every time I think to myself "I should buy one just to play around with so I can have an opinion" I remember that A: I already have more bolt guns than I need (and twice as many barrels as I do actions) and they're all nicer than a Savage; B: the 2 nice dudes in front of my team at the Karstetter Memorial team field match down in Wa a few years back who both had to take turns pulling each other's brass out of their Savages (on the clock) cause the ejectors on both guns failed and C: when I decide I don't like the action I'm stuck selling a chassis that is only compatible with a Savage...
I'm hoping for Remington, Tikka, Bergara, I dunno who else, to make a fast twist .223 as it would be a great entry-level precision rig for new shooters.