In my opinion the Howa offerings are at the very top of the heap when it comes to a push-feed rifle. No other push-feed out there is better. Some are 'nicer" in fit and finish, but as far as function goes, the Howa is as good as you can buy (I think the Ruger American is as good too, so I believe it's a 2 way tie)
The HOWA has one weakness, and it's something I correct before I build a rifle with one of their actions. Their bolt stop screw is far too light. I take it out and throw it away, and I re-drill and tap to a 8X40 screw so the bolt stop doesn't come loose at a bad time. I have fixed about 7 of them in the last few years, so I just do the fix before I even make a stock for one. But other then that I have zero bad things to say about a HOWA action.
If more reliable is what you want you need to look to the next step up, which is controlled feed.
Some of the reliability is not because of the fact the CF extractors are stronger (although they are) but is because CF feeding covers a few sins involving bad ammo that push feed doesn't. In a CF action if the round binds, you yank back on the bolt and it clears the problem child from the gun and you are back in business. With a push feed you may need a rod to clear the gun at times.
So overall, in extremes, controlled feed is "better".
That means a Mauser type extractor in most cases. In that group you have the Mausers of the 98 design and it's copies, the CZ 550, the Ruger M77 Mk2, and the Winchester M70 CF actions. All can be as accurate as the Howa, all are as strong or stronger (which really doesn't matter because they all are far stronger then they need to be) and all have stronger more reliable extractors.
Many of them can be found used, occasionally for around $500, depending on condition, but I doubt you'll find a new commercial controlled feed rifle for $500 or less.
I like Controlled feed on every rifle I can get it on, but I don't demand it on all of them. ARs and AKs as well as M-1 Garands have push feed extractors and they are not known to fail much. My Mossberg has a push feed action. So does my SAKO. I still like those rifles. All lever actions have push feed extractors and I like my Marlins and my Brownings just fine.
So keeping things in prospective, the "need" for a controlled feed action, to my way of thinking at least, is "mission driven". I really want controlled feed on bolt actions in calibers I may (and have ) hunted dangerous game with. However if I can get it on a deer rifle I'll take it. One action I am very fond of is the CZ527, which is controlled-feed, but is a rifle I'd use for rabbits and marmots. I like the CF feature even though I doubt I'll get killed by a Cape Rabbit if my weapon jams.
I have to acknowledge this fact. In my military days, I hunted the most dangerous game there is. Enemies! They hunted me back too. I used push-feed rifles (M-16s and FALs) And they used push feed rifles (AK-47s and SKSs)
Just food for thought.
But to answer the question as to what is "better" then a HOWA .....................I would say "not much."