I disagree that I haven't given any substantial criteria and that racking effort and maintenance are minor issues, they are very important ones
Of course they are important Strait. I didn't mean to say they aren't important. Just that there aren't substantive differences between platforms based on those criteria.
Sure, if you go back to the old days and get yourself a C-96 Broomhandle Mauser, or something equally esoteric, you may find yourself with a gun that's difficult to maintain. However, anyone with the mechanical aptitude to understand the principles of operation of a handgun, can reasonably execute basic field-stripping/maintenance of any of the suggestions you've been offered. Heck, the Glock, M&P, and xD are nearly indistinguishable (in most ways), in that they require like two basic steps to field strip. A 1911 isn't much harder. Nor is a 92F, or a SIG, or an HK, or a 3rd gen S&W auto, or many, many other choices. The manufacturers have made them all reasonably easy to clean/service because they have to be able to send them out into the hands of millions of customers who will need to be able to figure that out with no formal training and just a few pages in the owner's manual to guide them.
We're trying to tell you that worrying about how hard it might be to field strip one gun vs. another is a non-issue. Pick another thing to worry about.
Now, the force required to rack the slide may be something to be concerned about, especially if you have compromised hand strength or if it may need to be operated by someone who does. However, most service pistols require about the same racking force, give or take. Some are smooth-sided, though, and harder to grasp, while some have lots of edges and cocking serrations to help you get a grip. Some are easier to cock in one caliber than another. You'll just have to get your hands on several examples and see if one is easier than the others, for you. Don't expect to find a serious service pistol that offers no resistance to racking. The springs are strong for a reason.
(Also, there is a best technique for racking an auto that gives almost ANY person the strength to accomplish the task. Place the palm of the support hand against the side of the slide, wrap the fingers of that hand over the top and the other side to get as much grip on the slide as possible. Gripping the slide with a full-palm grip in the support hand -- holding the slide STILL -- push the strong hand forward against the grip, forcing the frame forward in relation to the slide. Push the grip forcefully forward until it reaches the rearmost stop of it's travel and continue pushing, stripping the slide from the grip of the support hand. Voila, a round is chambered! If it sounds complicated, there are pics and vids on line we can point you to.)
All of the features listed by Sam1911 are secondary, except for the safeties which I mentioned already.
Those features are only secondary if you don't have much experience with handguns. But that's fine! The journey of learning those differences is a lot of fun!
But what is important also are reliability, durability, and accuracy, but these are understood.
Understood? Maybe. Fortunately, most of the offerings from the major manufacturers are about equally reliable, durable, and considerably more accurate than most shooters (certainly those inexperienced with handguns) can take advantage of.
And the "bickering" is simply disagreements which are unavoidable.
Perhaps unavoidable, but these disagreements are really just symptoms of a bunch of gun fans who really want to laud their favorite pistol and who haven't been given sufficient criteria to make a more discerning selection.
When your criteria can be met -- with equal validity -- by a high-end 1911 and a Hi-Point, well, you just plain need to pick some more discriminating criteria!
Get thyself to a range and see what you like. Then you'll know what to ask.
We'll be here when you get back!
-Sam
