RE: Archery Research vs Bow Tech/Extreme VFT
I shot the VFT and it is a very nice bow and one that you should definitely consider. That being said, the AR has it's own merits, some of which are different than anything I've ever seen. They also shoot very nicely and should also be considered, IMPO.
PSE makes the widest range of bows in the industry. They set out over 2 years ago to make a bow that would be 'state of the art' and incorporate unique characteristics that some engineers and machinists only had dreamed about. You have to examine the AR line closely to see some of these issues.
Pete Shepley decided that this bow/line would be DEALER only and that it would be offered to select PSE Dealers first. He guarantees the Dealers a 25 mile radius protected area and other amenities.
In your interest, you should probably check out both bows before you make such an important decision.