My only experience with other saws is the porter cable, it was a good saw, but just good enough to convince me to stick with the hobby. Then I found my ex on craigslist. I wish I was near enough to somewhere that had other saws I could try, I would like to see the difference between them. But then again I hear people saying you have to get used to the different brand, so a five minute try out is really not going to matter much I think.
I never did bevel cutting on the porter cable so tilting the table to do that is something I never tried, but I do love that the ex style saws tilt the head. That alone is enough to make me think twice about any other saw.
I have no noise in mine at any speed, I generally keep the speed knob around 3/4 though. Go ahead take it apart, it will be interesting to hear what you find. You might as well, you know if you do not, it will be something that rattles around in your mind bugging you to no end.