If you've tried them on and they fit well, why not go for it? Mares is a quality brand name and although $500 isn't cheap, it's not expensive for a BC either.
I would recommend though that if you haven't tried these BCs on, you definitely want to do so. You should also consider trying as many different brands and styles as you possibly can to make sure you're finding the ones that fit your bodies and needs well.
When I bought my first BC I made the mistake of believing that because it was the most popular women's BC and that it would be right for me. It fit fine when I tried it on, though I remember feeling as if the cumberbun allowed a lot of shifting. But since nobody said anything and that's the way my (ill fitting) BC during certification fit, I figured it was normal. It took less than 6 dives with that BC for me to realize it was the wrong BC for me. Off to ebay it went. It took me about a month to find what fit me perfectly and now after 125 dives in it I look forward to the next 125 in it. It fits like a glove, doesn't shift at all, and has all the features I want.
When you find the right BC, buy it! What I recommend in brand or style might not be the right one for you....or it might, but you wouldn't know until you try anyway.
PS. Both my husband and I started with Seaquest BCs, now we dive Zeagles, and we both dive Zeagle regs as well.
