... in real terms, there's always a need for accuracy (or at least some semblance thereof) and always a need for a sight picture (even if the "sight" is mostly the target).
In my CCW class, the assailant started to run directly at the instructor from somewhat more than 21 feet away.
At that moment the fact that he constituted a threat became clear, and the instructor drew. His words were to forget sight picture. And when the instructor had drawn, the assailant was so close that the instructor never got the gun high enough to
see the sights anyway, much less to use them at all.
By the way, he used laser sights, and I acquired them on a new DAO gun immediately after completing the class.
I never carried a 1911-style pistol myself but several of my le colleages would take issue with your blanket statement that a pistol with a hammer "should never be cocked before firing" as they were big proponents of cocked and locked carry.
There are a lot of people who carry Model 1911's cocked and locked. They don't move the safety until ready to fire.
I've used traditional semi-automatics for decades, but I've determined that moving the safety after drawing from concealment is something I don't want to have to take time to do in a self defense situation. For CCW I'll stick with DAO.
The statement is not mine. I'm not the expert.
I have several friends who are LEOs and former LEOs. The needs of a peace officer differ from those of a civilian. They may have to take down an assailant at a distance in enforcing the law or neutralizing a dangerous armed felon.. The civilian has neither the duty nor the authority to do that in most cases--he or she draws from concealment only when imminent danger exists, and only for personal protection. Police officers often see the need for the single action option, but many departments do not allow it, and one former officer I know recently told me that anyone who cocks a gun in a serious SD situation is crazy. I never realized that before my CCW class last summer, but I accept it now.
A DAO handgun would
never have been my choice for range use or on the trail and that hasn't changed, but for CCW what I need is something I can carry and draw and fire
very quickly from concealment. A different tool is indicated. Again, I had never realized that.
Oh well, my steel revolver with a hammer and adjustable sights is OK for home defense.
By the way, the .380 Ruger LCP is very popular for back-up among officers in a large local department. A friend of mine in that department is dubious about the effectiveness of the cartridge and insists that his men use only hot personal defense loads.