The pistols that Kimber has issues with are their low cost alloy frame guns. The all steel guns are solid guns but you are not going to get one for $699 unless you happen to stumble across a deal. The all steel guns are not what they were 25 yrs ago or even 10 years ago but they are still as good or better than the top brands at similar price. If you get to the $1000-$1200 range you get a bunch of pistol in some of the S&W offerings and all that ive owned are solid reliable and accurate pistols (S&W). Kimber jammed themselves up by putting out the alloy framed guns at cheap cost and it cost them. You get what you pay for so of course you are not going to get an all steel gun with all the standard upgrades for $800 unless you buy a secondary brand. To ME...the peak of 1911's was in the early to mid 2000's when Sig was producing solid guns for $700-$900, Kimber was doing the same as well as S&W. Things have gone way up in cost so those guns at that quality level are not that price any more...they are 20-25% more money now unless you pay attention for a deal to come down the line. If you are talking pistols that are $1200 and under...Kimber still builds some solid guns as do the other mentioned above. They damaged their brand buy trying to put out those lower priced guns during COVID etc and they just didnt stack up. Kimber does not build BBQ guns though and BBQ guns are customs built normally by custom smiths or custom shops.
Also, if you dont have 500 rounds thru ANY 1911 thats $1000 or under in cost then you cant judget them. Ive had Kimbers and others "act up" here and there and at round 526 they went on a run! LOL! Break in on GOOD 1911s is paramount...give em a shot before poo pooing on a 1911...or dont! LOL!