My dad had a RIA Tactical .45 and it was a very decent gun; it ran well and lacked a few things of higher dollar guns, but nothing "wrong" with it and that's what most everyone will say. My first personal 1911 was a Norinco 20+ years ago, so a good route to take in my opinion.
I DO like shooting 9mm in the 1911; something I scoffed at until a few years ago until I got a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm. There is no finer/sweeter shooting 9mm than that gun and Colt is foolish to not re-introduce it as soon as they can. 92, Glock, M&P, XD, none of them compare for shooting pleasure in my hand. If I were getting a 9mm 1911, I really do like the commander length as it's slightly handier. But a GM length is not ungainly, of course.
I don't find shooting .22s in 1911 fun for some reason, but that's me.