Direct response to the OP
Disclaimer: I didn't read all the replies to this thread because I'm too tired... So, my response is not intended to offend anyone or undermine anyone's experiences.
99% of those who discredit High Points have never even held one, much less shot one or owned one. I will be honest and forthright with you; I have never owned a High Point. However, I have fired a few hundred rounds through my boss's High Point 9mm. It has never failed. From el-cheapo Blazer to premium DoubleTap +P, not one failure. We take it with us when we go out halibut fishing. The halibut up here tend to be a bit easier to deal with when you put a round into their head. Makes it a lot easier to pull the big ones on the boat. His reason: if he dropped his S&W M&P .40 in the water, he'd beat himself to pieces. If he drops the High Point, oh, well.... It was only $150.
I've never seen that one fail. Yes, it's heavy. Yes, it's ugly. Yes, it's on the list of guns that most of us would overlook without a second thought. However, it is reliable and more accurate than most of the internet commandos out there that discredit it. Reliability is still one of the main attributes of a gun, right?
Personally, I like SigSauer and will likely stick with them. But you will be hard-pressed to find a more dependable handgun anywhere near the MSRP of a High Point.