Very interesting reads above... If nothing else, a newcomer might read all this and think "hmmm.... I better look into this a bit and shoot a few guns before buying".
My progression:
Way back when:
-Glock 17 gen 1, didn't carry often. Shot beautifully.
-Beretta flip-top .22LR for more discreet carry, still didn't carry often
Years later, decided to carry more:
Sold above as had little money (esp. Beretta was ammo-sensitive, tho neat little gun)
-Glock 27
Started carrying more, spent lots of time fiddling with the Glock, 357SIG barrel, sights, smithing, etc..
Finally decided I didn't like shooting .40 at all. 357SIG actually better but frustrated with size of platform.
Had young kids, wanted external safety. Wanted external safety anyway, with soft holster. Sold it.
-H&K USP45c. V1. Niice shooting. Multiple modes of carry/readiness, from condition 1 on down. Usually carried SmartCarry, sometimes C-TAC. Reliable as a hammer. About as good-looking.
Started to learn more about H&K. Did more minor gunsmithing. Didn't mind the crunchenticker manual of arms, but still... Always lusted after a P7M8. Then the P7 PSP police refurbs showed up!!!
-P7 PSP. Nearly the ideal manual of arms for me. Very elegant and well-built. Fiddled, melonited it, tritium tubes, etc. Tried various holsters, SmartCarry, Alessi CQC/S, Crossbreed Supertuck, AKJ Concealco.
Found myself wanting to pocket-carry more. Researched why I wouldn't benefit from the SW 340PD. Looked at SW, Taurus, Ruger. Charter.
-SW 442. Fantastic pocket carry. Feels pretty good to shoot for a tiny gun.
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Nowadays, I carry one of the above:
-SW 442 in pocket holster (Mika or PCS molded leather), "go everywhere", or in SmartCarry to go running, knock around, etc.
-HK P7 in SmartCarry or AKJ Concealco if I want a fast and secure classic holster draw, more capacity, more often when I go into the big city or want something more powerful than the 442. It's a thin gun (like the 1911) and in the unique AKJ rig, it's pretty much optimal and disappears under most clothing.
For remote areas, I take the 629 carry comp. Which is the wife/home defense pistol; a work of art.
It's a journey. It's really a very individual choice. Not sure I'd have got where I am now without the above learning. If someone told me not to buy a Glock 18 yrs ago, or again 9 yrs ago, not sure I would've listened.