I'll tell you what I do when I'm looking at something I'm not familiar with...
I head over to a local store and try to find one similar to try out. If I dig it, I'll take the chance. If I can't find it, I just google it like crazy and read every review, watch every vid I can find, etc.
They really are fantastic guitars. I can't remember playing one that wasn't a gem.
I've seen a fair amount of McCarty's for sale in that price range. It's not that they aren't great guitars, they are. I've got one myself.
I think it's just that they've been pretty popular for a number of years now and with the times being what they are, there are some great deals to be had on really good used gear.
You ought to be able to get your hands on one and try it out and make sure it's what you're looking for although in that price range I'm not sure you can go wrong unless something has happened to the guitar.
I played a PRS for the first time the other day. It was a Custom 22 and if I would have had $1500 I would have bought it right then and there. It was a '96.