Every high end manufacturer will have some minor issues from time to time, but it's how they stand by you that matters. Yes, Ron, Jeff, Greg, Mark, and a couple of others left WC, don't assume that WC went down the tubes when these cats left. Ron has since left, and Jeff is the main brain, but it's not like they left Bill in a lurch by a long shot.
If I was to rank them, I'd still give Bill the nod, then NK, then LB. Baer makes a nice pistol but his CS is no where near the other two. I saw a 2 month old USA Custom at an ADPA meet where the slide firing pin face was pitting where the cartridge seated. The guy sent it in, and it was sent back with a note that it's normal, to live with it. I would have gone bonkers.
That all said, again we are talking about the Ferrari's out there, and certainly you can get an awesome Kimber or Springer for a fraction of the cost that will still shoot better than you can and do the job just as well. Kind of like getting a CVO. Sure there's lots of stuff out there that can probably do the job better, for much less money, but if you want the best of the best, it's gonna cost you. That's what customs are all about.