The current proposal on the heat pump side of things is to use Bryant's fancier air handler with the smart controller.  The choice is then to use a Bryant heat pump, or a ClimateMaster heat pump.  Allegedly the Bryant is a relabeled ClimateMaster Tranquility.  The Bryant would be $1K cheaper however.

Unfortunately I'm not getting much from my contractor in the way of differentiators that would help me choose.

Seems to me if the Bryant is just a CM relabel, then we're down to post-install service.  Does Bryant have a decent support network?

Anything else I should be considering?

David,

According to a few contractors I talked to last year also CM, Bryant, Heat Controller, and Carrier are the same products, with different labels and paints. They are manufactured in different places, all in the US. Their warranties my vary. Bryant offered a $600 rebate on some of its GSHP units last year. I do not know if it is still going on. I am not familiar with Bryant's fancier air handler.

Regards, Masoud

Installer is more important. 2nd is warranties. Almost last is appliance.
j