reload over chrome anyday. though i have no pictures to back this up, reload is FAR superior. they are...
more comfortable -up for debate, i guess
better shaped- not as ridiculously huge in all the wrong places, (unless you get it custom)
hand made in either philadelphia or seattle- and you can go talk to them, cause they are rad! ( at least in philly, haven't been to seattle)
TOTALLY customizable- i had them put a seatbelt clasp in mine because their straps are the ONLY thing in don't like about the bags, can't have a solid strap. Mine is also 5 inches taller, an inch wider, and 2 inches deeper than a stock courier deluxe. and if you want a color they don't have, and you can get it for them, they'll do that too, but no zipper pockets..they won't do that. not to mention the custom embroidery.
granted, they are more expensive, but you get to meet the makers, and they use all american products, etc. you don't get a stash pocket (which isn't really good for much, aside from the cool-factor) and they have a different cinching mechanism (which some people like, and some people don't...a lot of dudes here swear by them)
that said, i paid $70 and a timbuk2 medium for a used kremin, which i use and do love. don't get me wrong. i have no vendetta against chrome bags. they're GREAT for the money, but nowhere near the best. they're EVERYWHERE (for better or worse). i guess you could say that chrome is the bag equivalent to a pista. and we all have our own opinions on those, but you can't deny they are a great value. I have a few gripes on the design of the chrome bag, and the strap does get pretty rank ( also discussed here), but i guess there IS a solution to that. it, as with everything else, comes down to personal preference.
I'd say that chromes are probably better constructed, but by no means tougher ( i mean that the stitching is perhaps more orderly, nothing else) I know a ton of people that use reload bags, and only like 6 or so kids (messenger kids) use chrome. that could be because i am in philly, but who knows. I know a few pretty damn old reload bags that are still around. I dunno...that is my two cents...i'll let this get back on topic now.
-jason