Just a little personal experience. I'm probably in the minority here, but I've had a firing pin block safety in a 1911 break and tie up the gun. I'll not own another 1911 with a firing pin block because of it. I know the chances of having another firing pin block breaking are minute, but I believe in minimizing failure points. The firing pin block was also not in the original design, and is strictly a civilian feature.
The II suffix on any Kimber denotes that it has the Schwarz type firing pin block. Springfield Armory and Dan Wesson do not use firing blocks. Two very notable Kimber model lines also do not use firing pin blocks at the request of the organizations which specified them: The Warrior / Desert Warrior (civilian versions of the pistols Marine Force Recon spec'd - along with the SA MC Operator - as COTS replacements to their worn out M1911A1s) and the SIS line (spec'd by LAPD's Special Investigative Service). To be fair LAPD SWAT issues the Kimber TLE II, and several other US law enforcement agencies issue II series Kimbers.
I'm a bit of a 1911 fan, and have owned a good number of them. Based on what I've shot, and looking at the fit and finish of what I've seen at the gunshop where I do IT work, Dan Wesson is offering the nicest production 1911 currently on the market. Kimber (even with FP safety), higher end Springfields, and higher end Colts (also even with FP safety) are all excellent guns. There's a particular DW I'd really like, but we haven't been able to get it yet. Currently I own two Kimbers. The base Kimber Custom II is, in my observation, much more refined than base Springfield "Loaded" models. I'd slot the Colt XSE series between those two. The higher end Kimbers and Springfields are right up there with DW in production 1911s. I certainly appreciate the semi-custom Baers, Wilsons, and Fusions for what they are. However, like mljdeckard, I'm also not convinced that they're worth half again to double the price of a Kimber (or DW, or higher end SA) for a carry / self defence 1911.
Unlike Chindo18Z, I am not a real deal US Army Special Forces Senior Sergeant. Also unlike you, Chindo18Z, mljdeckard, and others here; I've not carried a pistol into a combat zone. I'm just a USAF veteran (did serve two TDYs in Iraq, and was armed with an M16A2 at times) who's now an armed citizen. Take my commentary above within that context.
An M9 may be a better gun for you if that is what you are comfortable with (I assume it was a weapon you dealt with in the military).
I think that's good advice as well. You might consider all the training and familiarity you have with the M9, and weigh that against training and familiarizing yourself with another pistol. I also understand if you don't care for the M9 / 92FS.