SLC = Salt Lake City, the place I live, not the SLC PLC.
I actually dont really think much of SLC500 as a hardware platform, it'll fault as soon as look at you and its pretty clunky.
I do like what Rockwell has done with Logix5000 but when you spend time with Step7, Unity Pro and CME you soon realise thats where everyone is going so its not great technology leader.
As far as Rockwell software?
Rockwell is overcomplicated and very expensive.
Most other manufacturers have rolled all their HMI into one easy package (CME, WinCC), Panelview is mega overpriced and (as I mention at every opportunity) RSView SE is horrible.
That said, we do alot of it because customers use it and we have the people and skills to get it done.
I spend about half my time on DCS where everything is put together to work, be super functional and extremely reliable.
But then it costs about 10x as much too.
I guess my biggest beef with AD aside from its Walmart hardware is the 'Opto22 Effect' where there is nothing canned and if you want to do anything complicated or out of the ordinary its a major pain. I know some of the more intense programmers out there actually enjoy this but I have neither the luxury of time or inclination to constantly re-invent the wheel when I can use hardware that costs a little more but gives me 99% of the functionality I need right off the bat.
Hopefully this explains my position a little better. I try not to flame though I guess i do come across a little blunt now and again.
