Giant has made more CF bikes than any other manufacturer. Giant is widely recognized as the best manufacturer of CF bikes. (note that I'm not necessarily arguing that Giants are the best CF bikes, but rather that Giant is the best manufacturer).

Personally, I believe when you get tot the high end the differences are very subtle, and most any of the top brands will be excellent, including Giant.

Because the brand Giant doesn't have a lot of cache, there's an opportunity to get a very good bike, with an excellent reputation for quality and reliability at a comparitively good price.

And if you're talking post 2006, the graphics aren't even ugly,