[dwsmithjr]

I suppose, given the attitude of many 1911 aficionados and the history of the design, it may have been deemed wise to take the conservative route and stick with the internal extractor.

You're probably NOT going to put anyone off with the internal extractor but definitely WILL put off a large number of enthusiasts with the external extractor. SIG had already "messed" with the design with the change in the slide profile which they continue to use predominantly in their 1911s with only a minimal node to the original design with their "traditional" models. Even there, they use the external extractor.

S&W doesn't seem to be that large a player in the 1911 market, but perhaps that isn't an accurate perception. I expect some people will buy a S&W 1911 simply because it is S&W as some will buy a SIG 1911 simply because it is a SIG.