I guess I fit into this category. I think the shot placement crowd is not as determined to get a heart or brain shot as you would have some believe. Most of the folks who preach shot placement are stressing the need for a simple upper torso hit, as opposed to a glancing head shot or a round through the neck or abdomen or shoulder. Upper torso shots are the biggest, most forgiving areas to target. Head shots are sometimes effective, but are not what golfers would call a "high percentage shot." In other words, the risk of missing/not getting a solid hit is not worth the gamble.
Whatever the case, the .45, IMO, is more desirable (bigger bullets make bigger holes), but is not going to decapitate the bad guys. The .45, .40, 9mm, .357, and 10mm are all relatively weak handgun rounds and are not sure-fire manstoppers, and hollow points don't always expand.