When I was looking at kimbers I went through a bunch of the same stuff. I ended up getting a S&W E. One of the main selling points was kimbers one year warranty vs Smiths lifetime. To me I was thinking they are willing to stand behind their weapon for only one year???? I think Ill go with something that has a lifetime warranty.
If I were buying a new 1911 it would be a Springfield Armory. As others have mentioned, I've heard many bad reviews about Kimber's quality lately. For the money you can buy a better gun from someone else.
I have had Colts that were great and Colts that were not. I've also gotten rid of Para 1911's because they did not feed reliably. I have a Springfield Lightweight Ultra Compact that has been flawless. I also have a Colt Gold Cup National Match (an older one) that has never had issues. Springfield does a great job of handling any warranty issues. Their customer service is top notch.