I generally don't recommend a 1911 to anyone, anymore, (if I ever even did so, I don't recall). I'm personally fairly comfortable owning and carrying them. I still own four and have owned a total of nine since 1988.
One reason I don't recommend them is the price and what an owner might expect due to the prices paid. I feel there's still a good chance there may be something, even a small thing, which could be in need of "attention" with a brand-new example out-of-the-box.
For some potential 1911-owners, just tightening a grip screw is beyond their limit of maintenance or mechanical ability. I know most, and possibly all, owners' manuals don't describe how to disassemble the slide should an owner want to remove the firing pin for cleaning; replacing the firing pin spring; removing the extractor for cleaning; or adjusting the extractor. For myself, it was 20 years before I figured out I'd need to learn these tasks.
For some folks, the least expensive 1911 will be fine for them (examples might be Armscor aka Rock Island Armory). These owners might put a 50 box of FMJ ammo through it; maybe clean the 1911; then put it away for years; and be happy it functioned 75%-100% during the 50 rounds.
Other owners may only want one with price not-an-issue (think of a "Bob Marvel Nighthawk ~$5000; or any Wilson-Combat 1911 at $2500+).
WHAT TO CONSIDER/LOOK FOR.
Before coming back to a 1911-specific forum, as some here have already suggested, choose some specific models and ask for a consensus or suggestions on whether to buy or not.
In no particular order, try to choose:
-specific brand/brands; consider how warranty issues are handled.
-price range and expect to pay more than, perhaps, a Glock, Springfield XD series, or Smith & Wesson M&P series.
-after shopping & researching a lot, choose some specific features.
-frame material.
-barrel length.
-caliber.
-finish.
-safety (ambi or single side, if that's of importance).
-barrel bushing or bull barrel (bushing-less).
-with or without a firing pin safety.
-there are other factors which may be important to a future buyer.
Going back to PRICE, so many times I've read/heard something like, "For a $1000 gun, this (name your problem) shouldn't have occurred." In fact, budget $2000, and if you come out a bit under after base price of gun; ammo; magazines; cleaning supplies; holsters; more ammo; you're just starting. Read those 1911-related-forums a lot to reduce/negate any future whining once a problem later arises.
OTHER.
It won't matter if it's a $500 1911 or a $5000 1911; either one can get an "idiot scratch" will be like carving a semi-circular scratch as deep as the Grand Canyon into one's 1911 frame and there's no means to 100% repair such a scratch.
Here's an article to read and it really doesn't matter if the buyer isn't really going to use his/her 1911 for "duty use" as any owner should still consider the ownership issues involved in owning/using/carrying a 1911:
http://www.10-8performance.com/pages/Choosing-a-1911-for-Duty-Use.html
Read the other associated articles, too, when you get some time before deciding to buy or not.
1911 guns can shoot accurately with its weight and straight-back trigger pull; be ergonomically comfortable when shooting (or can draw blood if too sharp in the wrong spots); be comfortable to carry with its flat/thin shape. There are probably many other pluses I'm not thinking of right now.