"why would you want to change anything else?" yeah, why? maybe we all should buy a corolla. it takes us to point A to point B . i think every one here buy guns for recreational/competition use,(except LE or army guys but then their firearms were issued to them ) and we buy what ever we dig and customize them the way we like. i dig the look and feel of an 1911 . a slim and solid grip feel that none of the modern gun could give me, i dont depend my life on it so i dont mind that if it jams once a while or pieces falls off from time, i just buy a better stronger parts to throw on . by buying a 1911, i know what im getting into, if i want to make it the coolest smoothest gun at the range, i have a long list of aftermarket companies to support it. have you ever fired an ipsc preped 1911? they are just amazing quick and accurate to shoot . it's a feeling that a plastic gun could never give me. and buy customizing it i dont just mean making it look cool. you do need accuracy enhance mod to win match. i agree with you on skills, but your skill is also limited by the accuracy and speed that your gun could put rounds down range. i know a guy who shoot ipsc for years (top 5 in BC last year) for years he has gone back and forward with modification right down to the grip plates on his open and standard gun to make it shoot fast and feel right in his hands. when a 1911 wears quality parts, they tend to look cool too.