Watching Forgotten Weapons' latest videos on the path to the 1911, I found myself wondering " why do all duty sized 1911ish guns still have grip safeties?" JMB didn't think it was needed.
Admittedly I don't run a 1911 myself, but no one seems to think they are a needed feature. Detonics released full size guns without them in the 70s-80s. Other 1911ish guns without grip safeties usually had other large cosmetic differences from a base 1911.
No dog in this fight at all. Just curious to see the opinion of the hive mind.
My theory: pure inertia. It is more important that guns stick to everything about the design of the original than provide innovation. Folks in the market for a 1911 want all the features of the original.