Hi,
as we all have our opinions on what we like/dislike.
I think that is the most important part when choosing a virus scanner. In my opinion from the detection/removal/performance (which differ basically on a mothly base) point of view there is only a slight difference between the top candidates, where avast! also belongs to. Over the last years you could watch the top products move more closer together, so that it has really become just a matter of personal taste, which solution is preferable. I can only support Vlk in his opinion that all the other top candidates deserve also respect for what they do, since they are also good products, which fulfill their tasks. If one of the competitors choose another way for a particular product, it should be left up to him. If one decides that it's not his personal taste of a good product anymore, then there are a lot of alternatives on the market.