Ply Gem/Great Lakes Windows Reviews?

Has anybody ever heard of Ply Gem Windows or any of the subsidiary brands? I am looking at getting some Ply Gem/Great Lakes/ Grand view 4000 (see why it's confusing?) and I was wondering if anybody knew anything about them or liked them? They seem really heavy duty, but it's going to be a ton of money to replace them all, but if I am going to do it, I want to do it right. I worked for Pella for a couple of years, so I am admittedly a little biased toward them, but I want the best window for a reasonable cost. The contractor swears by them, they look like they're built well (I know a few things about windows, having made thousands), and the numbers (NFRC) look good, but when rubber hits the road, it's still a lot of money. Any suggestions?