Embraer competes at the smaller end of the market. E.g. they compete with the A220, but they don't really compete with things like the A320 or the even larger planes from Boeing and Airbus.

Mitsubishi also tried to build a plane to compete at the smaller end, the MRJ was cancelled though.

Also, yes I flew on an Embraer. It also was the worst plane I was ever on. Everything was cramped and it was notably loud. But not sure that this is true in general.