I own several aluminum frame 1911's. Two Kimber "Combat Carry's" and two from Les Baer. I use a TRS for practice and the aluminum for carrying. I did put 2300 rounds through one of my Kimbers at Thunder Ranch. It worked flawlessly. I bought the second one for backup in case of breakage or other reason's for not having it. I always put enough ammo through my light weight guns to prove them out and then retire them to the carry mode. In all my years I have read of as many breakages of steel 1911's as light weight models. A buffer would ease the shok to the frame when practicing and then be removed during cleaning before carrying. Clint Smith did mention the comforting, not comfortable phrase when I was at TR, but admitted he has owned a LW Colt Commander for years. Course if I owned an engraved TRS like he carries I'd carry one too, heavy or not.
Marty U.