I believe you are correct in some of your assertions, but it still doesn't change the fact that end users actually had a say. Then and now as I understand it. Guys like these don't just get **** handed to them with the directive of 'use this'. It was tried back in the 80s and early 90s and you want to guessed what happened? They pulled 1911s out of mothballs and were rebuilt by the armorers at Quantico. It was tried with the SEALS too. Guess what happened? The MK23s mostly sat in the arms locker. Occasionally getting pulled out for use, but mostly sitting. The pistols that failed were Kimbers and they ended up being a stop gap measure to get a pistol in the field while the armorers caught up to demand. I'm pretty sure that within the first couple years of having these pistols they'll mostly be trashed, but that's not the pistols fault, rather it's the amount of use they'll see. Also, if these guys are anything like a certain Army unit, then I'm pretty sure there's some leeway as to carrying an alternate style pistol. I've seen Army SF carrying Beretta and Glock G19 and heard about some 1911s. The SEALS have the Sig226, Glock G17 and a select few(ST6) have the HK45c. There are viable alternatives and I'd be willing to bet that MARSOC has a few. In fact(wish I could find it) I'm pretty sure I've seen a photo of MARSOC guys with both 1911s and G17s on the range. I know the procurement system for all the service's is pretty screwed up at times, but when you get to this level you see a lot less of the ********. Is it possible this was some ********* officers pet project? Absolutely it's possible, but I'm dead certain the end users will not be force fed some piece of equipment they don't want or need. These are smart guys and if this isn't what they want or need, then they'll find a way to get rid of it and get what they do want/need. Either way, I'm tired of all these armchair commandos pontificating about what's best for various reasons. You are not there doing the deed and mixing it up with the stinkys. When you do, then you can have an opinion on types of equipment. I know what equipment I would have preferred, but was force fed less than stellar lowest bidder crap because I'm just a regular Light Infantry line dog. These guy don't have to deal with that.
Yep, pretty much sums it up.