Frankly, my RIA/Citadel Tacticals are as servicable as any other 1911 that I own. My Kimbers are finished much better and my Colt is sublime in fit, but I can shoot my RIA/Citadel 1911s as well as anything else and they have proven quite reliable. A Citadel Tactical is my weekly range beater, in fact, and it's seen many many many thousands of rounds through it without a single issue. In short - a Citadel Tactical, plus some proper Colt 7rd tapered-lip magazines and decent grips, is about all the 1911 that is needed.
If I had a jones to spend more, I'd likely consider either a Colt 1991A1 or a Kimber Custom II. I have owned examples of both, and both were very very nice pistols indeed.