don't know why they'd be put off by the parentage. The Phillipines had a little something to do with the birth of the weapon, after all.
I am a fan of RIA. Also Tanfoglio's Witness series, and the 24/7 and MilPro series from Taurus. Let's not forget the Keltec P11/P40s.
all are underdogs, and talked down to by gun snobs.
Yet every-damn-one of them goes Bang when I expect it, and click when I expect that. I also can put lead/copper on target out to at least 25 yards with all of them (the P11/40 on very good days, mind).
Put another way: for the $1300 of that one Kimber, I can have my 1911s, one each, in GI, tactical, and Commander flavor. And a little change to put on that Taurus PT92 I've been trying to talk myself out of, or another rifle. Or a lot of reloading components. Or let my friends come along and use them as I introduce new shooters to the sport.
Anyone who wants to talk crap about the weapons had better be willing to put his arse where his mouth is- downrange. (No, I'd certainly never shoot at them, nor would I violate a "cold" range- but I'm betting they would get the idea real quick that I'm not after bragging rights)..