Never owned and never even shot a Barnett BUT I did do my research BEFORE I bought a bow not afterwards. I actually took to heart the advise I was getting from many sources. I have nothing against Barnett but I do value the opinion of guys who know more than I or who have had a Barnett fail.
I'm happy to have chosen an Excalibur with whatever drawbacks it might have. It pays well to go with the general consensus when the consensus is that they are junk.
PS.. I bet a lot of deer have been taken with Barnetts..