I went with a Springfield Mil-Spec 5", like the one you were looking at. I was also considering the Kimber Custom TLE II at the time.
I went with the Springfield because it was cheaper at the time ($560 out the door vs. $1k+). What I didn't know was:
- I needed a beavertail. I got hammer bite so bad that there'd be blood on the deck after 2-3 mags. This only surfaced after I started combat drills from a holster.
- The blade rear sight on the SA is SHARP. Now both hands are bloody from combat drills and malfunction clearance practice.
- I hated the curved mainspring housing of the SA. The flat mainspring housing is much more natural in my hand.
That being said, given the choice again, I'd STILL buy the Springfield. Why?
- Springfields are "Series 70" designs, meaning they don't include a firing pin safety like Colt or Kimber. This is truer to the original 1911 design. Let's face it; if SA and Les Baer and a bunch of other companies can get their 1911s CA-approved without using built-in lawyers, it wasn't necessary in the first place.
- MIM parts are much more prevalent in Kimber guns. Granted, if done correctly, MIM parts are just as good as cast or machined parts. However, doing it RIGHT means there's no cost savings to the manufacturer, which is why they went to MIM in the first place.
- I got 500 bucks in price difference to make the SA exactly the way I want it. Sights, trigger, hammer, everything. VERY nice when you've got access to a master gunsmith.
One last note about "semi-custom guns."
You really ought to see where these "custom shops" get their parts. Wilson Combat guns carry a hefty price tag along with the "TACTICAL" advertising, but their guns are built on frames and slides supplied by Kimber (minus the firing pin safety systems). They're great guns, but for their price, I'd rather go with a Les Baer (which I did - a blued Thunder Ranch Special), which are 100% made here, by Les Baer Custom. Springfield frames from the lowly GI on up to the TRP are forged by IMBEL Brazil, and machining is done in the US (if you're lucky). Only the "Springfield Custom Shop" guns appear to be full US made.