Well price isn't everything, you pay 30k for a 1994 mk4 supra and guess what there are plenty of cars that can still spank it stock for stock, Glocks are not expensive guns, they are polymer, they don't have wood grips or any real extras, I love my Kimber .45 but I wouldn't want to try and hide it on myself with plain clothes on.
I honestly don't see how the grip is uncomfortable, I fired between 300 and 400 rounds through it per day for 2 weeks during our handgun orientation and then another 100 to 200 a day for a 4 day period for our combat courses. No blisters, calluses or other Owies to speak of. The recoil doesn't seem any worse than my 9mm and maybe its due to the ported barrell which cost a staggering 5$ over a standard G22 price.
My Kimber Pro carry is more powerful, what .45 isn't anything bigger you'd need a .44 mag or .357 or maybe a .50 although the desert eagles are mainly for show, most people can't handle them and they are heavy.
I use the Hornady .40S&W TAP 185 JHP Hydrashock round in my Glock it produces about the same recoil as my 9mm loaded with a proportionally similar load and the muzzle flash is even less than with my low grain FMJ target ammo.
I wouldn't say I am a cheap ass, I own several guns worth a lot more than my glock, however for the money it is a lot of bang for the buck and it's also extremly reliable, and since this kids just turned 21, doesn't know jack about firearms it would be a nice forgiving place to start and to learn since you can abuse glocks and still have them function properly. I try and maintain all my weapons as good as I can, my good friend has 2 glocks that he cleans once in a blue moon and they have yet to fail, I've seen them dropped into mud and puddles and dirt and they fire and fire, about the only way to foul one up is use shitty magazines that are worn out or defective.
Just some points to think about, I just love when people go for the price issue, especially coming from a guy on the MK3 Supra forums, I mean my god for 10k you can buy 2 in mint condition and have some left over to do tune ups, oil changes and maybe a new head unit, but dachande maybe you are really better than all of us because you only use 1200+ firearms or maybe you just havent ever had to get dirty with one, IDK.
