The 1911 and I go way back.
The first auto I shot was a 1911. The first auto I bought was a 1911. The first auto I Qd with was a 1911.
I was issued M1911A1s by Uncle Sam. My USAF match pistol had a Remington slide, Colt frame, and was older than I was at the time.
They've been foreign and domestic, new and used, stock and custom. Some were better than others, but all were good enough.
You can do better now for less, but I still like them.
How would I improve it?
Chamber it in 9 minimeter cuzz it kicks and costs less and you can go through both sides of a helmet at >130yds instead of bouncing off at 50 yds.
Ditch the bbl bushing, slide/bbl ring lockup, bbl link, and plunger tube. Keep the thumb and grip safety. Chop it a bit and give it fully ramped bbl, internal hammer, and polymer frame. Make take down and loading the mags easier.
It would be EZer to load, rack, shoot, clean, and carry. Might look like this. Could call it the M2020.
Hope this was as fun to read as it was to write.