Everyone is forgetting when Colt gleefully shoveled out garbage, and because they were the only game in town, everyone had to live with it.
I have an M1911 45ACP Colt Combat Elite, purchased in the early 80’s. The barrel and slide unlocked too early in the pressure curve. The pistol acted closer to a blow back pistol than a locked breech. The slide would go recoil back hard, hit the recoil spring guide, which then peened the frame. The peening was bad enough that the frame needed replacing within 3000 rounds. Colt replaced the frame but did not change the barrel or slide and the unlock geometry stayed the same. I installed shock buffs. Shock buffs slowed the peening, but that pistol would chew up a shock buff in one hundred rounds. Since Colt only warranted their M1911’s for three years, I decided that the new frame would peen out after the warranty was over and I needed to do something.
I sent the pistol off to Wilson Combat, had them install one of their barrels, did a bunch of other work too. The total cost tripled the price of the pistol. The pinky of the dumbest Wilson Arms gunsmith knows more about M1911's than the entirety of Colt Customer Service. Wilson Arms properly installed the barrel, the dwell is correct and the slide is not peening the frame. The worksmanship on everything was top notch. I still use shock buffs, they proved their worth, and I have one excellent 45 ACP. After more than $1200, I have a 45 ACP that is as good as my Kimber Custom Classic.
Notice the finish wear on my Custom Classic? It got that way through use.
This Colt barrel came off a friend's Colt Combat Target Pistol. That ring in front of the chamber is directly under a locking lug recess. This is a manufacturing defect, Colt damaged the barrel when cutting the locking lug recess.
In summary, I am not paying extra for the Pony.