To minimize pilling, wash the fleece inside out with mild detergent on delicate cycle in cold water without any fabric softener, and then, let it air/line dry.

There is no fleece liner on the Arc'teryx Stinger jacket. It is purely a shell jacket without any form of additional insulation. The Arc'teryx Scorpion jacket is a soft shell that does have a very thin fleece liner.

I have one that was made in Canada and one that was made in China. It seems like they are shifting production of their mid-range high demand pieces like the Gamma SV and Gamma MX to China.

This depends on the jacket model and your height / torso length. I am 5'6 with a little shorter torso than average, and Arc'teryx jackets advertised as hip length do fall just below the top of my hips. Arc'teryx also makes waist length jackets which are too short for me if I am wearing them as my outer layer. They are okay as layering pieces, but I generally prefer a little longer jacket during active pursuits. Arc'teryx notes the length of their jackets (in the general terms of waist / hip / below hip), and if that information is not expressly listed on the backcountry site, you can find it on the manufacturer's website.

I have a covert in both the raisin and basmati, and both wash well. I wash mine turning them inside out in cold water on delicate cycle with a mild detergent without fabric softener, and then, I let them line (air) dry. I have not had a problem with any of the colors fading or graying. Oddly, I bought a Delta Lt Zip in basmati, and it actually was a completely different color (it was light gray to start) than the covert. I ended up returning it because of the color. The raisin color is nicer than what it appears on the website. The basmati is nice too, but it picks up and shows dirt easily.

The Epsilon AR falls somewhat in between the two other jackets you mentioned. It has neither a traditional windbreaker feel nor the stiffness associated with some softshells. The Epsilon is very lightweight and comfortable to wear. It conforms to your body allowing for good maneuverability. The new Epsilons out for Spring of 2008 are nicer than the previous year's line in terms of both sizing and quality of material. Note that the 2008 Epsilon is a hip length jacket while the older model is a shorter waist length version.