You always seem to do that with a vast amount of knowledge and a flair for the ability to put it in writing. 
Like you, I believe some things....calibers....stand the test of time because they deserve to be there. I love .45acp, and used to carry one or two different models religiously until one day when a friend and fellow pistol competitor said something that hit home. We were eating lunch when we noticed some LEOs walking by carrying 1911 firearms. I won't get into the fact that they were not cocked and locked, however he made a valid point. he asked "Why would anyone who depended on their handgun to keep them alive limit themselves to 8 rounds?" At the time I was carrying a Kimber Ultra Stainless ( which I dearly love and can shoot quite well ) and it hit me...he's right. Bigger hole or not, his M&P with 18 rounds of 9mm had ten more rounds of fighting power. At the time I owned an M&P CORE with a Leupold Delta Point on it. As of Yesterday I own another CORE with iron sights no delta. I think I am hooked.
Now I can compete with the same fiream I carry, dot or no dot it's the same firearm, and I am VERY capable of shooting it. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
