a) I use to install nothing but Toro equipment and had very few problems with it. Toro makes good equipment and they have some neat features with their spray heads where you can use pressure compensating devices (PCDs) to get matched precipitation rates.
b) shrubs will "knock down" spray and the coverage will be uneven. I highly recommend either drip emitters or drip pipe for an established shurb area.
c) I worked for a guy who got in the dirt with us and he was an excellent installer and taught me many things. I also saw hands-on owners who took major shortcuts and taught their crew to do the same. The professional looking manager is only as good as his design and installation crew. The design sounds good and I don't see any reason to discount his crew a priori. Ask for references if you're not sure.
d) Company B sounds more like a guy that does this kind of thing part time, maybe a little in the grey market (not licensed and/or doesn't see a need for permits and/or doesn't see a need to have the tap done professionally). Regarding the tap, some cities require a licensed plumber to tap into the city water supply, some cities only require an irrigation license, and sometimes this is all done by the state. You should find out what the codes are in your area.

While I am sympathetic to guys like Company B (worked for a guy like that, probably was that guy for awhile) I think your best bet is Company A. I always think more zones is better than less, particularly if there is varying water requirements (beds/truf, shade/sun, drainage issues). Rain guages work ok, but aren't always reliable. The remote is nice if you have a large property and want to be able to check the zones without having to back to the controller. Otherwise those features are just gimicks IMO. Another nice thing about Company A is that you will have the design in hand after the job is done. This is actually a big deal down the line when the system needs servicing or if there is a break or if you need to do any trenching or digging or, well, you get the picture.

The only caveat to this advice, if Company A is considerably more expensive than B the differences between the two may not be worth the price.

Good luck and please ask if you have any other questions.

Thanks "ytnok" - I appreciate your time and opinion (their prices are actually comparable).

I'd definitely go with installer A, unless you hear from past customers that they do shoddy work.

The permit optional does bother me, but it may or may not bother everyone.

The thing about smaller installers, is you tend to get a more personal level of attention to detail, and service. That guy knows it is his house you are going to be calling in the middle of the night, or on Sunday if there is a catastrophic problem. Sometimes the larger facier crews have nice presentations at sales time, and contract labor who could care less if they scar your turf, or disturb your plantings.

Just saying.

mrpike does make a good point, and service and care in putting the landscape back together are two things we use to pride ourselves on. However, there were twice of this type who didn't care about it, as did. This can also be true of the big guys.

It's interesting that you didn't include $$$. The reality is that company A will make more money from you, because it gets a volume break on prices. It probably will not pass it on to you. I think A will give you a product that will be at code or better.

I personally prefer hunter products.

I think all sprinkler installation should include a detailed design given to you up front for a fee. And they had better know local information, such as evapo-rates and soil types. I live in California, and there are many people in the business who do not know much about landscaping or installation of irrigation systems, and survive in the busines installing one size of pipe.

I would prefer spray heads on wide beds. Narrow beds I would go with a tech-line or t-tape product.

Choice of heads, water pressure, rate of flow, and size of area, will determine the # of lateral valves. It isn't always better to have an additonal zone.

So, is there a license board in your state?

Did you check for claims? Sometimes that's not essential.

How much experience will the installers have? Or did you totally skip that major aspect?

Many people get so wrapped up in the general stuff, that they have no idea if an owner, manager, or someone with 3 months expererience will be trying to install or design their zones to fit the needs of their soil and plants.

How much plant knowledge do the companies have? Did they isolate certain plants with special needs onto a special zone?

i worked for company A for many many years (before becoming a hybrid of company A and B).

I tend to look down upon the landscaper/irrigator that has fancy clothes, the unworked truck, and smells a lil too clean. But thats me!
I've always found this person to be an excellent salesman, who often hires whoever can fog a mirror.

not saying company B is perfect.... sure there are enough hacks out there, but I like to know the person selling something is the same person DOING something.

As I tell my customers, I only hire for manual labor... covering trenches, pushing a shovel etc. All skilled labor is done by the man who is standing behind the work, and giving the warranty (thats me).

drew