The 226 is a fine weapon.  I don't have experience with a wide variety of handguns, but I've put over 5000 rounds through 226's for police training with no problems.  In our academy we had the choice of glocks, sigs, S&W's, or berettas.  We had a day at the range on each, and then could use whatever we wanted from there on out.  9 out of the 11 of us took sigs.  Both of the top shooters in the academy (me being one 

 ) shot sigs.  I was very happy when I was hired at a department that uses .40 226's.  I can't say a single bad thing about them, once you're trained to instinctively use the decocking lever and get used to the DA/SA trigger.  
I have a 239 .40 as a concealed/off duty weapon... again, can't say a bad thing about it.