First, you mentioned rifle so I don't know if you mean buying a complete PSA rifle or buying a PSA upper and lower separately. Most have found its cheaper to purchase the upper and power separately (on different orders) to avoid a federal excise tax on a complete weapon.
I have a melonited pencil-barreled upper that seems good quality for the price, and I mated this upper to a PSA Magpul-furnished complete lower for $500-ish. I've since added a TRS-25 red dot and Magpul rear sight for a complete $600 KISS build. Its a light-weight weapon that meets my needs for the range, etc.
While the Freedom line normally lacks the more-extensive QA checks (MPI/HPT barrels, etc) most folks report they operate reliably and accuracy is fine for an entry-level rifle. Overall the Freedom-line pricing is quite reasonable, allowing many to own an AR for hundreds less than many comparable brands.
That said its seems the S&W Sport II model is a popular entry-level AR if you are stuck on those other better-known brand names...if you can pick one up for $600-ish OTD. Once above that price-point, I'd shop wisely at PSA and get a premium-barreled/CHF upper and some sort of Magpul and/or EPT triggered PSA lower. But that's JMHO, many will pay more for a certain brand's image.
You really need to determine how you're going to use this AR? Is it an plinkster/range toy that doubles as a potential home-defense tool (Freedom is fine), or do you want to impress the ninja-mall crowd with a popular-brand AR with multi-pounds of accessories hanging off the barrel while doing multi mag-drums on Youtube? (hope you can appreciate my late-night humor)