Philip,
While I will agree that the high end 1911's you listed are very reliable, I am not sure that they are equal to my GLOCK, SIG or BERETTA. I know they are not better. I have found the GLOCK and BERETTA to be as reliable as you can find. When I was transitioned to the BERETTA 96D Brigadier, they had us fire 600 rounds of high velocity .40 S&W 155 grain ammo. We fired it holding the gun up normally. Then fired it held sideways and then fired it upside down. When I went to advanced training, we were laying down in the dirt and firing it upside down. Never a problem. Also, it was accurate under poor conditions. We were shooting in a quarry with a 114 degree ambient temperature. A lot of sweating there.
Also, no modifications on the service issue gun are allowed.
That is fine, our GLOCK 19's came well equipped and proved accurate enough for me to qualify on a new drill on my first time out. It is fine with me. I used to add a rubber grip to my first generation GLOCK 19, but my new one does not need it. Also, my issue gun has ambidextrous slide releases. Nice, but I was trained to slingshot it. Still, I am impressed with it enough, that I intend to buy one for myself.
As far as a CANIK, it is a clone of the WALTHER P-99, which is a very nice gun. I shot a CANIK once, but I have seen nothing to convince me it is MORE RELIABLE than my GLOCK 19 or BERETTA. By the way, I liked the WALTHER P-99 with the AQ trigger more than the later model with the GLOCK style trigger that the CANIK also has.
When I first started buying handguns, everyone modified their guns. If you bought a 1911, it was a COLT and it was pretty much the only choice back in the 1970's. Then you went to a gunsmith and got a ramp job, then an extended slide release, of course, new sights, usually a BOMAR (but night sights were in the future) and tried out your chosen ammo to see if it worked. Some did, some did not. Then an enlarged safety and may a trigger job.
If you bought a revolver, unless it was a PYTHON, you took it to a gunsmith to smooth the actions. I had Smith & Wesson's bought new that did not have as smooth a trigger as my CHARTER ARMS Undercover after it had been worked on.
Now, I can buy a gun with all the features already included and not have to overpay for it. Time marches on. If you want a 1911 and have the money, great. I see nothing there for me but a flashy gun to brag about with no advantages over the ones I now use.
As far as brand names, I have bought several of the STOEGER 8040 pistols. I paid less than $300.00 dollars for them and have not modified them. I bought them because my other .40's were full sized BERETTA 96's and were hard to conceal. I have owned a SIG 229 and GLOCK 22 in .40 S&W, but did not find them satisfactory. I bought the STOEGER'S to have a concealable .40 S&W and found them to work very well. They are reliable, hit hard with FEDERAL 180 grain HST (my former issued ammo) and are more concealable. It is possible that they are less reliable than the GLOCK or a CANIK, but I have not found that to be true, so far. I prefer a 9m.m., but now have a concealable .40 S&W, in case there is a 9m.m. ammo shortage. Also, my agency found this load works very well in the field. I use one for a car gun.
Also, modifying a gun to get the best gun you can have and then using less than the best ammo, is not reasonable to me.
Canik is a duty gun for many middle eastern countries and military. They have published reports of testing up to 50,000 rounds without failure. I have had several. All very well constructed and ran well. I am sure you are aware that not all of these high end guns are 1911 or even hammer fired. Many produce their guns in a variety of styles and clambering. I trust my life to Glock. But, having said that, I will not call tgem the best made firearm on the market. They would be near the top but I can't call any Tupperware gun the best. But again, this is very subjective. If I oy he three shots to make it count, I am pulling my 1911 chambered in .45acp. I use three shots because statistically speaking, this is what i will fire in a gun fight. However, statistics be damned, in my waistband is my Glock 19 with 15 plus one. But if all things were equal and my wife was not in the picture, my gun choice would probably be a little more expensive. But, to keep the peace, I went with one of the best guns I could for a reasonable price. I have had a lot of different brands, some budget some not. And to tell you the truth. None have really given me any trouble except for a Smith. Probably have not shot enough rounds with any one gun, I tend to get bored, sell it and get something different. I will say the Glock seems like a keeper and my 1911 is going nowhere. And it's not a high end gun, it's a Taurus PT1911. Runs great never had a failure and is well made. But it is a house gun, like you, i am not a fan of the cocked and locked carry, plus it is too big and heavy.