vmaam
It suddenly dawned on my coffee/sleep starved brain something you have a "bug" about. Pure money. Do you want to spend money or not. You have mentioned several times 3 times the cost of a Kimber.
(If you notice the date/time of this post Yes, I have no life, I just got off of my other full time job, full-time LEO in Dallas, after one long overtime shift.)
First question I would ask is what is the gun for. Target, protection, both, plinking, or what. If it is for primary self defense or protection add this to the mix. What is you life worth. Personally considering my other full time job I want the best or most reliable piece of equipment I can get or allowed by department policy and law.
Second question: I would figure how much I have to spend.
Now for some more thoughts on spending the available money:
If you are going to compare a $600 Kimber to a $1700 Wilson you forgot to add the options to the Kimber or subtract the same from the Wilson to get some kind of comparison. Other than that there is no comparison.
Right now you are trying to compare as I have mentioned before two total different items other than they are 1911.
At least when you add the cost of checkering the front strap, protective coating (armortuff/hardchrome), tactical dehorn, tritium sights, steel checkered mainspring housing instead of plasic as on the Kimber, then add the cost of you (your time and experience), one of your friends (if you trust him) or a reputable gun smith (who will warrant the work) installing all of the above plus a reliability package (Not all kimber's need it, but some do), add the cost of a no $#!+ customer service policy (Yes, I know Kimber will send you new small parts when asked, but here is a reason they break). Now you get a little closer to what a comparison should be. Other wise you have a before and after.
With the cost of the options added there is no 3 times the cost. It is closer to even depending on who does the work, (tritium sight, coating, checkering, etc.) and how you farm it out.
The decision boils down to one thing. How much do you want to spend.
Do you want spend your money for the options. If so, spend the money and get them. If you don't keep the difference, Buy the Kimber and use the difference to find out if you want the options and buy ammunition to learn to use the gun you bought. (Most of the trade guns that come in are less than 200 rounds fired)
If you do not like the Kimber and decide later to trade.
Trade.
That is part of the production gun game. You are not out that much when you trade off you Kimber (Buy for $600 resell for $500). If you are satisfied with the Kimber, keep it and tell everyone on the forums how great your Kimber is.
Hopefully, this is a slightly different perspective to look at your decision.
Be safe and keep the brass flying
Terry Peters
http://www.pt-partners.com
Do the research but you get what you pay for front end or back end.