Interesting prioritization in making some sort of "list" when it comes to a handgun carried for a dedicated defensive weapon.
Me?
I don't have a "fixed" set of criteria, mostly because whenever I look at selecting, adding, changing, etc my choice of retirement CCW handgun, I look at it from the perspective of the circumstances in which I anticipate carrying & using it, and what I envision may be involved when using it.
Good quality, of modern manufacture from a
major manufacturer? Of course.
Quality & ease of manufacturer warranty/parts support? Goes without saying, I'd think.
Reliable? Also goes without saying, or I'd not be considering it in the first place. I usually prefer to wait until a new
design has been out in LE & private owner hands for a couple of years, or more, before I consider owning one. I've found myself an unwitting Beta tester and I didn't care for the experience. (LE users can break guns with alacrity, and reveal unsuspected user-related/caused susceptibility issues that somehow always seem to slip by engineers & factory shooters.
)
Can I get the ammunition easily enough? Niche calibers, or calibers which aren't supported by the major ammo companies to make it easy to pick something from any and all of the major American companies, don't interest me at all anymore.
Appropriate for the conditions, circumstances and situations in which I plan to carry it? Again, of course, or else why am I bothering?
Does the design conform to my existing skillset, or only require a fairly simple change to make it worthwhile?
Is there enough holster/carry method support for it which satisfies me, for my needs, preferences, etc? The HK P9S .45 was less-than-optimal for me in this regard many years ago.
Ease of user maintenance? Yes, although this is a far different consideration than ease of armorer level maintenance, support & repair. Over the years as I've added different makes/models to my list of armorer certifications, I've found it easier to stay within the growing list of firearms for which I've been trained to support, maintain & repair myself. Picking up a LCP was the first deviation from this preference in some years, but it wasn't enough to stop me from buying & using one.
Caliber, finish, capacity, "tactical appeal", popularity (enthusiasts, loyalists, etc
) & such things, in & of themselves, are usually of little interest when it comes to choosing dedicated defensive weapons.
So ... not a "list", but some of the things that I usually consider whenever I find myself thinking I might want a new gun.
I'm the only person I have to satisfy, after all, right?