here is my short experience, i just finished up shopping for a 1911 over the last 3-4 months trying to decide which way to go...
i was VERY tempted to get a Sig trad 2 tone .. found a few places that would do $780 shipped on it .. that + your FFL fee gives you $100 or so to pay range fees and 250 rounds ammo... this is what i was SURE i would get, but the non-transferable warranty always bothered me for some reason.. none the less the fit and finish on every single sig 1911 piece i handled was unrivaled at the price point.. and the traditional models look GREAT ... plus 1 thing i love about them is they are completed guns imho ... i wouldnt change a thing, even down to the grips they make great decisions with what to do on guns..
as far as ruger, while i might just have gotten my first 1911, i am a HUGE ruger fan .. by far my favorite all around gun company ... i dreamed of a SR1911 so long and didnt buy anything waiting for prices to come back down.. i do know they get great reviews but the only 2 i ever saw in person had a very sloppy fit on trigger, grip safety, and some issues in my opinion with finish ... that turned me off BIG TIME, but none of it would have affected reliability i dont think .. especially with people wanting 750+ for these, they arent worth it imho .. they are a great company and great customer service, but the SA i got is much nicer in my eyes
regarding RIA etc... i always think about resale value even though i never intend to sell anything .. and i always think about over all quality etc in case i decide to keep something a LONG time and really use the hell outta it .. i had actually put money down on a RIA once, but just couldnt go through with it.. they seem nice, they get awesome reviews, CS is supposed to be great .. but in the end to me a 1911 is a high end gun, no reason to go "cheap" if it might bother you, and it would have bothered me. the thought that a couple hundred more could get me something I would be more proud of, hold value better, and have a better fit/finish in the end made it a no brainer for me that way .. some love em cause they can bang them around etc and not care.. im a wierd guy.. same as I couldnt just go out and buy a Rossi revolver.. i LOVE wheelguns, Rossis work fine, but I cant have anything from a company i dont 100% trust and i cant enjoy the lower end stuff as much as I can higher end.. i find myself taking more pride in things that cost a little more and are a little better made which results in a better maintained weapon and me shooting much more ...
that being said ... I just found a GREAT deal on a SA champion loaded SS and couldnt pass it up.. the SA was an awesome deal and im glad i went 4" for carry atleast.. in my situation with how i dress atleast that extra 1" might make a difference, when sitting i notice the 4" barrell is right about against the chair and a 5" would push into the seat and push the holster up if that makes sense (wearing at 5 for me) ... SA has awesome customer service, and im actually glad i went this route . .. so glad im considering selling a couple other guns and getting a Milspec or something to start working on ... the warranty and them not caring who bought the gun originally means a LOT to me ... the loaded might be your best option as it can be had around $750 last i looked possibly a little less? idk ..
anyways, just my experience, thought i would share