Back in the old days [ie. 40 years ago when the gun bug bit me] it was an article of faith that a basic 1911 pistol needed to be broken in by shooting several hundred rounds. As well, at that time there were many gunsmiths getting famous for doing basic tune jobs on 1911s to make them both accurate AND reliable. Nowadays with more exacting tolerances being built in from the beginning with CNC machinery and the like, it's not nearly as true as it was. However...I suspect that the level of production technology in the Norinco small-arms factory is a few decades out of date, so we may be back the the 'good old days' with their handguns.
I had a 'Norinco prep' done on my two-tone 1911 by Gunnar at Armco. It took a long time and a few reminders, but when I finally got it back, it had been turned into a very decent shooter. It has been handled by several people with $1000+ pistols that got an interesting, faraway look in their eyes as they tested the trigger pull...esp. after I told them it cost me $150 to have the work done.
I think the Norinco pistols are great for the money [assuming you don't get a total lemon] With a little work, and maybe a few part replacements they will do for years of shooting, IMHO. But don't pass judgement until you shoot it some to polish the bearing surfaces and smooth the rough edges.