custom catback vs. brand name

which do you think is better?

i know a guy at midas who can give me a hella good price on an exhaust if i get it custom done by him. it would include:
-magnaflow 14827 muffler (looks the best with a good deep sound)
-2 1/4 or 2 1/2" piping (which is better?)
-high flow cat converter

or should i wait and shell out close to $500 for a greddy evolution, or anyother brand name catback system?

p.s. don't the brand name systems come with a a mid-pipe resonator thing? i know d.c. calls theirs the "premuffler"