Agree. The improved grip safety on the newer XDs was actually well done, but I’m not sure I would really trust the gun to hold up. Maybe, but how many high round count XDs are there? Newer or older.
Maybe they will eventually offer an Echelon with a safety, but I’m not expecting them to do so.
Sig P320, FN 509t, HK VP9, Walther PDP, M&P 2.0 and Echelon. Sig was what the initial plan was but bad press gave powers that be cold feet. FN was ok, didn't impress in any way. Walther was solid, although snappy but no issues. Narrowed down to VP9, M&P & Echelon and had all officers shoot them for their input. VP9 shot very well, no reported issues. M&P had a great grip, and shot great making it a close second. Echelon beat out M&P and everyone shot it very well (accuracy and speed). Admittedly our T&E process is limited by budget/time and wasn't overly rigorous in terms of durability, so time will tell if we made the right choice. But based off of how the large majority performed with the gun it stood out.
Given the problems command staff can have about what officers post on the Internet, I'll jump in and remark that weapon purchases in departments can be influenced by those with oak leaves, eagles, or stars on their collars.
The now retired chief at my former agency absolutely despises Glock, considering their pistols cheap junk. That worked out OK in 1989 as we transitioned from revolvers. The selection committee preferred the SigSauer 226 (which the chief had authorized for his former department). I suspect the chief's opinion influenced the decision making decades later when another committee wanted to change our pistols. While I was no longer a cool kid with inside knowledge, the decision-makers decided on the M&P40 until FNH, learning of the Smith bid, undercut them to lead us to become one of four departments with FNS pistols.
Talk about plastic junk.
Fast forward a few years and a new chief, a desk pop (actually a locker room pop), various problems eventually resolved by FN, and my former department is carrying...Glock.