I bought my first .22RF CZ late this past January when I got a 457 American. I'd wanted to try a CZ .22RF for years, but it wasn't until I started seeing online photos of the new 457s that the very attractive appearance of the American sporter tripped my trigger and one was purchased. The American's bbl was a lemon I guess, as I had no success getting it to shoot under 2 MOA groups - even with proven good lots of SK Rifle Match & Lapua Center-X. Eventually, I pulled the original bbl and dialed it in carefully to cut a precision 11* crown - that did help a little in reducing how far out the fliers in groups were, but didn't get me where I wanted to be. I also adjusted the trigger down to just over a pound for a very crisp, clean break, and experimented with action screw torque - the 457's trigger is really very good or even excellent, especially when compared to other factory offerings. But I finally gave up on the factory bbl & replaced it with a Shilen select match ratchet rifled blank that I contoured, chambered, and glued-in. I now have a very good-looking rifle that shoots at least as good as it looks, and has a threaded muzzle.
Unlike the OP, I really like the appearance of the MTR's stock, and having read about the 'match' chamber of the MTR's bbl, I wanted one badly. Wasn't able to find one in stock until a couple of months after I'd bought the American, but now have both. All I did before shooting the MTR was to adjust the trigger (this one easily went to just under a pound), and install a BScar 25 MOA scope rail. I had a spare Athlon Cronus scope sitting here in the office after selling the 40X repeater that it was on, so it found a new home on the MTR. This rifle shot very respectable groups right out of the box, and was just as reliable as the American 457 in feeding, extracting, & ejecting 100% of the time, something I appreciate very much. I put 400-450rds through the MTR, and found it to be close to as accurate on steel at 200yds as my custom barreled 40XB & V-22 repeaters with Bartlein, Krieger, & ACE bbls.
However, being kind of a picky old fart from shooting those custom bbls, I wasn't quite satisfied, so bought a .850" straight Shilen and did the same work on it as I had on the American's Shilen. I haven't had the chance to shoot as much with the new Shilen as I'd like, but early indications are that it's going to shoot good enough to be worth the time, effort, and $$ it took to purchase &install it .
I had a case of the hots a few months ago for one of the new Tikka T1x rifles, but after getting the two CZs up & running with their Shilen bbls, I think I'm done for awhile. I'm very pleased with the appearance of both my CZs - try to find another company that makes such fine-looking .22RF rifles that run with 100% reliability, and that shoot as good as the Varmint MTR did with its original bbl in this price range. Sure, my American's bbl was a lemon, but for all I know, a call to CZ-USA's customer service desk might well have solved the problem for a lot less $$$ than putting a new custom bbl on it. These actions are substantial & solid, with excellent triggers, and perfect function. The wood on both of mine is very attractive, and I'm not likely to turn loose of either one of them.