What I hated about 1911's was, honestly, with almost all of them, it seems to depend on who showed up for work that day a lot more from gun to gun.
I have a Dan Wesson CBOB and my Father has one, there is literally, massive difference in the quality.
I also think that some of the best advice I've ever heard is to download the magazines one round and avoid 10-rounders all together (in .45 ACP) to increase reliability.
My first handgun was a 1911, I would not advise one.
IMHO, you don't need to have an intricate knowledge of how to maintain something that your life may depend on like a gun, to use one. I think 1911's fall in that category.
I spent a ton more money than I feasibly needed to, deal with headaches/issues I shouldn't, and couldn't afford to feed it regularly enough to be good with it. It just wasn't a good buy.
That being said, some have to learn the hard way, and some follow the path commonly followed. I'm usually the latter, I just thought I knew better.