Great question, and the answer is yes. It really depends on what you want your system to do - and today, what a good system can do will surprise you. For starters, the only safe systems use cellular monitoring (no phone line required, no phone line to cut!). Anything else is old news, since even an internet connection is easy to cut. Plus, the company should not charge extra for the cell radio, or add on big monthly fees for cell monitoring. The next thing is interactive services - you will be amazed what you can get today. So here is what you might look for:
1) 100% cellular monitoring - no phone line required, and none to cut!
2) Remote arm/disarm capability
3) Special apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Android
4) Email & text notifications on anything happening at home: doors opening, etc.
5) Video services - live viewing from any web connection (including phone) and motion-activated clips
6) Smart home - remote light and thermostat control
In other words, the game has changed, and the "old school" companies are way behind. And you can get a great system that you can install yourself, fully programmed and ready out of the box - that means more savings, and you can add devices at any time, and even move the system with you. When researching, I strongly recommend that you look at all the reviews you can find, and Yelp! is a good place to start. Shop hard, and don't just focus on the big names: look for safer, smarter, simpler, and more affordable - you will be happy you did!