PRE-POST: I am not dumping on Norcs here...I'm just talking about pouring serious dough into customizing 1911s.
The real question is - how much money is that gun worth? There's about $1000 in gunsmith work there between the prep, HC, Slide lightning, bomar cut, front dovetail, front strap checkering, beavertail cut and installation of the new parts and proper blending. Then there's probably an additional $600+ in SA magwell, trigger, grip and thumb, safeties, sights, hammers, beavertails, and I'm sure some nice innards.
All that gunsmithing takes it out of Norinco's special place, the low budget - easy accessible market and tosses it into the custom market.
It was done on a $300 gun. So $1600+$300 = $1900 Norinco. If it was done on a SA, or a Colt or caspian frame and slide, it would increase the cost by about $400. You'd then have a $2300 Springfield Armory, Colt or Caspian.
Which do you think you'd get your money out of later, if you needed to?
If you find someone else as clear headed as some of you, you'd get the extra coin for the loaded Norc, but you'd have a much bigger market if you built the SA.