If you opt to get the cheapest paint job maaco offers, yeah you'll get what you pay for, crap. They won't do the proper prep work, etc. However, i've heard lots of good things about them when you get their highest paint job available, and they do all the proper prep work and a high quality paint job. See, maaco is known for the cheap jobs cuz people are looking for the best deal, so they use cheaper materials where the paint and clearcoat is all in the same thing and...it just sucks i would never get that.
I was looking around at places to get a paint job but it's just too expensive. I'm going to do it at a friends soon (as soon as i finish paying what i owe my parents). I'd rather do the prep myself and then have a friend run the coats of paint, etc on it. That way i know some shop didn't cut corners or use low-quality paint on my vehicle, and it's cheaper
So if you have a friend that knows how to do body work go that route.
But to answer your original post, if that's the best paint job they have to offer, i'd give it a try. Do you get a warranty on it? And for that price you really don't have much to lose. I'm interested to hear how this turns out