I received one perfect score from a published author, who went on to offer her assistance to me personally. Through her, I met my agent. Because of this author's encouragement, I went on to finish Sword of MacLeod and sold it. This is just one instance of wonderful contest feedback. RWA offers a multitude of contests and you should read the criteria carefully to discern which one best suits your needs.
Many contests offer editors as finalist judges.
This is a great way to get your manuscript in front of an editor. If she's interested, she will probably request the entire thing. Most contests offer a critique, either as a part of entering or an extra option. Having a fresh pair of eyes examine your entry is invaluable as this unbiased judge can catch things your critique group, who have lived with this story for a while, have missed. Some contests, such as the Golden Heart, Silver Heart, and Maggie, hold a certain prestige by becoming a winner.