whatever you choose, if you are going for a 9mm, id go for a European gun ie CZ, Sig, HK, Beretta. yes i know many of these manufacturers have plants in the US, and whatnot, but these guys i think have the most time making guns specifically in 9mm only, so i think they are considered the best by many. i cannot think of a single american 9mm gun that i would want over a euro 9mm gun. Now 45 is a different story. with the exception of the usp45/hk45, i would take a colt in 45acp over any euro 45. its an american round, so leave it to america for that one. same with the 9mm, let the europeans design those, it has been in there history the longest.
and i mean can you really argue that a CZ or Sig or HK or beretta are not proven manufacturers. look at all the military and police using these guns. aside from when a military/leo is using a .45 (albiet rare from what i can gather, but there are some out there, and when they do its a 1911 usually) i cant really think of any american guns in their hands today. sure at one point every cop had a S&W, be it the auto or a revolver but now its glock or sig mainly. military, its the m9, and possible a sig for some branches.
thats just me though.