I sincerely hope people now realize that something made half of plastic molding isn't worth $500 plus as suggested to market by Glock. The Turkish manufacturers have shown us that there is no reason to pay $200 for $300 extra for name brand alone.
Are you another Glock hater?
So is a $2500-$3000 Dan Wesson 1911 overpriced, when I can go buy a Philippine or a Ruger 1911 for less than half that? Both shoot the same ammo, same design, use the same holster.. Heck, they both are built off basically the same patent. By your logic, there is "no reason to pay the extra" $1600 for brand name alone?
First and foremost, Glock has a long standing reputation for reliability...period. Like it or not, they are the standard by which all "striker fired, tupperware quality, wonder-9's" are judged. And for good reason...they have worked very well, under any condition, with little care and maintenance, with a variety of ammo and decent magazines, since the 1980's. Doesn't a solid reputation deserve a premium? The market thinks it does...
The Glock is a different PATENTED gun than an XD or a PPQ or a CZ P10 or an M&P. There are certainly similarities, but I can buy a ton of both OEM and aftermarket parts for a Glock. I can buy reliable Glock magazines from Magpul for $15 or less. I can buy tons of different triggers, mag releases, slide locks, holsters, lights, sights, etc. The Glock platform is supported almost as well, in in some ways, better than, the 1911 platform. You don't think all that deserves a bit of a premium? Again, the market thinks it does.
I am in no way putting down the XD. I own a XDm and a Mod 2 and they are great guns. Neither am I meaning to insult 1911 owners...I am simply using that platform to illustrate my point.
I have some friends who shoot the S&W economy line (sorry, model eludes me), as well as a guy who has a couple HiPoints. All swear by their guns, and don't mind the occasional FTF/FTE. More power to them...I won't own these guns, but we all get to choose within our laws and budgets.
Cheaper guns work, but there is a reason they are cheaper...may be inferior parts that may not last past 2,000 rounds.