i looked at M&P, XD9, and glock when i got my MP.
XD is nice gun. Ugry, but feel / shot about the same. I like the grip safety.
Infact, i was so sold on XD, that i created account over at the XD forum.
But then i start hearing things about FTE, mechanical brakage, and fact SA does not sell any parts for it(U brake the gun, its warrenty'd for life, so u send it in, they'll fix. no question asked. But fact i have to send it in everytime something brake is not appearling to me).
Sig - what can i say? its like entirely different pistol. its bulky, heavy. when I bought my Beretta, i looked at Sig 226, and i thought what a ugry pistol. It does what it was designed to do well. Several military uses it(infact, military of my home contry use modified P226), and I think Texus ranger used it as well. But it just did not agree with my hand. it was like gripping an old Walther P38 to me.
And Glock - don't even get me started on that. they were just wrong pistol all together for me. period.
i think M&P is more controlable then XD imo, and much easier to shoot then P229(it kicks little more then my beretta. but i think thats mainly due to all metal contruction of 92). Since this is ur first hundgan, i say go with M&P(cheaper then most Sig and XD too), and shoot the crap out of it!
i have 1911, M&P, and beretta 92f/s. I think M&P fits my need(and my hand) the best. I love it soo much that as soon as MP 45ACP is out, i'm getting one(I may keep MP9 or i might trade it I donno)