I haven't shot the subcompact XD, only the regular model 9mm ...
The HS/XD design seems to be getting the minor bugs worked out, although you can still hear about some folks experiencing broken ejectors ... but to be fair, it mostly seems as though it's the folks that are fooling around with using non-XD magazines, like the Beretta magazines, slightly modified, trying to get "increased capacity" from their XD.
The XD I used at our range one day belonged to a fellow from another agency, whom I was qualifying for his duty & off duty weapons. It was a bit bulky, and while the trigger is a SA type, it lacked the crisp "feel" of a true hammer fired, single action pistol. Not bad, mind you ... but about on a par with a decent Glock trigger, stock, which exhibits a bit of firm "staging". Predictable ... but it'll never become a "substitute" for a cocked & locked 1911, or even the SA trigger pull of a recent production S&W TDA pistol which is on the "smooth" side of standard tolerance. Better than a HK USP, however ...
I will say that the grip angle seems more "traditional" on the HS/XD design, than it does on the Glock, and folks who prefer 1911's, 1935's and other older designs may discover the XD to possess a surprisingly ergonomic grip angle ... and the grip safety is "neutral" when it comes to being user friendly ... for me, anyway.
I like the fact that it uses metal bodied magazines ... That will go a long way to eliminating some of the "minor" magazine problems experienced by many Glock shooters, I'd suspect.
Having handled the subcompact XD, it seems a bit bulky for my hand ... especially when it comes to off duty, concealed carry. I prefer my CS9.
Of course, I've spent a reasonable time becoming adequately proficient with the TDA (DA/SA) trigger system, and find it equally accurate in either DA mode, for the first shot, or for follow up SA shots. That takes practice and specific training, though, and many folks may not have either the time, or inclination, to become sufficiently trained with DA & SA pistol shooting.
This is where I think that a lot of previous revolver training and practice stands some pistol shooters in good stead, when it comes to mastering DA triggers ... Sure, it's easy to become potentially "accurate" with a cocked (SA) revolver, but it takes proper practice to master the DA trigger stroke to exhibit consistent accuracy, you know?
I've talked to a couple of folks online that have fired a decent enough number of rounds through their XD's to consider them reliable ...
In the end, I suppose it'll depend on what YOU prefer in a small CCW pistol ...
The CS9 DOES have a Lifetime Warranty, however ...
Why not eventually get both, and give them some extended "testing" for the next 10,000-15,000 rounds, and let us know what YOU think?
