I own an XD9 but I don't carry it as a CCW. The gun is extremely accurate and I have never had a failure to feed or eject out of it. It just simply runs. It is the loudest of all my guns but I like big bangs :) It did take a few hundred rounds to loosen it up (it was a stiff recoil spring and took some racking). It has had about 500 rounds through it now and it is very smooth now, it is definately a good choice. Why don't I carry it? Simply because I carry a Glock 30 in a CrossBreed Supertuck and the Glock is smaller and I am a skinny little chap :) I save the XD9 for when I get dressed up!
As for which gun to get......whichever fits budget and hand best. Springfields are a good choice, but then so are Glocks and many others, Given the environment you willl be carrying in....a Glock would be a great choice as they don't mind getting a little dirty.
Just my 2 cents.