As I go on in this endeavor I'm coming to realize that there are a ridiculous amount of retailers selling/manufacturing AR parts, far too many to look through so I thought I would ask for some guidance.

Are there any others out there who offer barreled uppers comparable to Palmetto State in terms of variety, quality, and price?  I've found several that have barreled uppers but they start at like $500.

My requirements are:

Price below $350
5.56/.223
16" Barrel, 1:7, nitride/qpq/melonite
mid length gas system
free float handguard 12" or more,  m-lok or keymod with top rail preferable over quad rail.
upper that isn't total crap and has dust cover and forward assist
BCG & CH not included, I already have these

I'm also open to the possibility of putting it all together myself, if I can find the parts in that price range with free/low shipping.  My main question was just is there anyone out there similar to PSA, the one I want from them has been out of stock for weeks now and I'm impatient :)

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-chf-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-7-ulw-13-lightweight-keymod-upper-no-bcg-or-ch.html

I doubt you'll find anything cheaper that is put together. Is there any reason why you won't just get a Palmetto upper?

You're not going to do much better than this above.  You are getting the good FN barrel and it's free shipping for Memorial Day.  Be warned, you should decide very quickly because the good PSA deals like this sell out very quickly and will not come back in stock while the sale is on.  

I did want a Palmetto upper, but the particular one I wanted has been out of stock and was only $279,  $350 is really my absolute upper limit.  I know there's an ongoing debate on whether or not melonite is better than chrome lining yet cheaper so I was leaning towards melonite.  PSA is def my first choice I just wondered if there was anyone out there like like them that I hadn't stumbled across yet.

Not sure where you are going to find a decent upper with a free float handguard for less than $350 shipped.

I have one of the $200 PSA stainless freedom uppers with a pinned FSB but it did not come with a free float handguard.  

Well like I said the one I wanted was only $279.  Maybe I'll just bide my time and wait til it either comes back in stock, or if I can hold out long enough, see what PSA does for 4th of July.  I still might pull the trigger on that $350 one.

I bought one of these Hardened Arms pistol uppers a couple years ago. It needed a little adjustment, after that its been a good shooter. When I bought mine it came with a Yankee Hill Machine quad rail and also had the end cap, its a well built upper. They don't say they come with YHM rails anymore but they look the same.

https://www.hardenedarms.com/ecProduct_229_27
https://www.hardenedarms.com/ecCat_27

Post a link to the one you wanted.

Well I'll be damned,  it literally must have JUST come back in stock, it definitely wasn't this morning.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-7-melonite-freedom-keymod-lightweight-upper-no-bcg-or-ch.html

wish the handguard was a little longer though.

One thing I did notice though.

On a lot of PSA's barrels/assemblies it doesn't specify if it's 4140 or 4150,  it also only says chrome-moly not chrome-moly vanadium.  I'm no metallurgist and a total newbie to ARs so I'm not sure if that's significant.

Thank you.  That's a killer deal.  Got the premium bcg for $89 shipped too.