This one tho, is about as bad as it gets.
First of all, the old 1911 is a little difficult to field strip but is probably the easiest gun ever made to detail strip. I can't imagine it being considered difficult to maintain.
Whoever said a 9mm hollowpoint is basically as good, is correct. All this bashing of the 9mm eventually gets to me. Of course for whatever reason, the miltary will not use hollowpoints so the .45 is the logical choice.
Anyone who thinks the .45 is inaccurate is simply wrong. I don't think it is the inherent accuracy of the round but the amount of work done in developing super accurate target models. Still even the run of the mill military models are prettty good.
Anyone who thinks the Berretta in unreliable is off about as bad as is possible. It is maybe the most reliable pistol made with the possible exception of the Sig P226.
I don't care for the Beretta because of it's fat grip and don't care for the Rugers because of the awkward trigger reach, but they are both fine guns for someone whose hand fits them.
They could do a lot worse than simply going back to the original M1911 with whatever advancements they need to add to it.
Sig P226 in 9mm was my last purchase about four months ago. When we moved from upstate NY to NC, I bought a P232 for carry. Both in stainless. We like them a lot.