The R.A.T.7 is very reliable.
pros: build quality, very responsive buttons, heavily customiseable (height, length, width, exchangeable palm rests/rightside grips) even the position of the thumb rest can be moved forward/backward. You can palm grip it, claw grip or fingertip grip it and adjust its weight (although it is quite heavy already withot weights so I use it without any weights) Very responsive and good mouse wheel (way better than any razer mousewheel (had Razer Copperhead, Lachesis and Imperator)
cons: a bit heavy, a bit expensive
I just love the build quality of that mouse, the buttons don't get that shiny look threw extensive use like the razer mice do.(the mouse button of my razer lachesis looks like it was polished on the position where my finger was ^^) Overall highly recommended
I use it on 800/1600dpi mostly. No idea how the laser performs on other surfaces but on my Razer Goliathus textile pad it works like a charm.
If I would want a cheap and good mouse I prolly would go for the CM Spawn (but havn't tested that one...) Overall I'd say the R.A.T.7 is much better quality than all Razer mice in terms of buttons / customiseablity that I've had.
Don't like the Razer Deathadder too much because it is primarily made for palm grip, you maybe can claw grip it but its not optimal in my opinion...