People have often asked me why I carry a pistol that cost nearly $3K, my answer is just that I carry the best pistol possible to protect my family. I know I cant take it with me when I pass and I consider all of my guns tools (I do not care about scratches, ETC), God forbid I ever have to use it in a defensive situation but if I do I know it will do what is asked of it.
You DO NOT need to spend a lot of money to get a reliable defensive handgun, I have owned and still do own cheaper guns that I would trust the lives of my family to. I just prefer the 1911 and with that model you do get what you pay for, For me it is worth it to have a pistol tuned and built exactly the way I want it so it is worth the extra money to get one that way, Life is short and if you have the means without making your family suffer in anyway, I see no reason not to buy whatever type of gun that you desire