Hello Shadowfox,
yes, reverb plugins can really be lame. I had been searching for a solution a while back and stumbled across IK Multimedia's Classik Studio Reverb or CSR.
I read some really good recommendations about it and decided to buy it.
Its really quite decent, a bit taxing on processing however.

I still think there is nothing better than a decent lexicon box however. Lxp-1 Pcm series, ect...

You may want to check it out and see if its right for you.

The lexicon is pretty much the paragon of outboard reverbs. I've never had the pleasure of using one, but most engineers I know swear by them.

Kjahaerus(sp?) Audio makes a lot of pretty nice (free) plugs. Google it.
I use a lot of their stuff, reverb included.

As for reverb plugs, there are very few better than SIR. It's a free plugin and you can search for and download all sorts of impulse responses for free off the web.

For external, Lexicons are nice but that Bricasti looks dang fine! (Mine's in the mail right now....ouch it's expensive!)

Checking out SIR now Cucco - it looks pretty damn fine!

Thinking it will be a nice complement/alternative to my cheapo reverbs until I can afford a Lexicon.

The cool thing about some of the Lexicon hardware reverbs (like the MX200) is, you can hook them into a VST compatible DAW systems and use the Lexicon hardware like a VST plug-in.

It saves your computer's processor from having to crunch the massive reverb algorithms. Plus then you have a Lexicon in your rack for outboard processing too.

I don't know what your definition of 'inexpensive' is, but street price on a MX200 is $199.