I just found this thread. I used to own a gun store in south florida, so I know a bit about the subject. The reality of owning a gun for personal protection is that you not only will most likely never use your gun against an intruder or attacker, but you are also a lot more likely to hurt a friend, neighbor, or family member. With that being said, always get a gun that you enjoy shooting. Don't worry about stopping power.
The 3 guns that I always loved to shoot were the Sig Arms P-210 in 9mm, Browning Hi-Power in 9mm and the HK P7M8 in 9mm. I always found the M13 to be cumbersome. If I had to pick 1 of those, it would be the Sig Arms. They are hard to find, but they are great shooters.