Back in the day McIntosh was a 'buy it and forget it' proposition. For a while they never sent units to magazines for reviews, figuring that they didn't need the exposure. The company developed a solid dealer network, and held 'clinics' where they'd measure your amplifier guaranteeing it met specs. In the days of FM, Mac could sell you a very fine tuner designed by Richard Modafferi, and send you a free FM directory in the mail if you asked. It was probably the only inexpensive thing McIntosh ever offered.
I presume they still maintain a helpful dealer network that will give you a loaner if something breaks. I don't know if they still hold 'clinics'. Unlike the 'old days', they are sending out demo units to reviewers who know about pace, slam, front to back depth and mid-range liquidity. McIntosh appear to be involved in tweako 'engineering': expensive CD transports that run at double speed... tri-wire speaker bindings on their amps (I don't even know what that is, but it sounds expensive). However all that is, their amps still look as beefy and as solid as ever, and I imagine they retain the expected Mac quality.
Their overall aesthetic has been modernized for today's high-end consumer, but still retains most of the classic Mac appeal. Personally, I'm more in to the Accuphase school of design, but inasmuch as I can't afford either of the brands I just look on from a distance. I wish my AHB2 had Binghamtom Blue meters but, like I said, you have to draw the line somewhere.