It would be interesting to know what the sales figures are for the Chicago area. I was at last year's Strictly Sail Chicago and saw the same Mac26M as compared to the Benehunterlinas' displays. (Since I owned a Catalina 22 at the time, I even got to partake of the wine and cheese party at Catalina!)
The Mac26M's fit-and-finish was not at the same standard as the other "polished guys" (Hunter 260, Catalina 250, ComPac 23); that would be clearly obvious to anyone comparing.
Nonetheless, I ended up buying a used Mac26X. It's a matter of what works for your family. I bought one because I want to get my family on the water: sometimes that's under power, sometimes it's sail. Either way, though, it's not at the yacht club (we're really not wine and cheese type of people).
Realistically, MacGregor's competitors are probably not Catalina's 250 or Hunter's 260. It's probably HobieCats and Hunter's 212 and West Wight Potters. Obviously, you're getting a lot more boat for the money; albeit, a bit cheaper made and more of a compromise. But then again, life is compromise.
