Gammon, you're just following common logic, which is actually wrong.
Pistol ammo quality still has an effect on the end results, though no where as near as much as rifle ammo (for most shooters especially). Truth be known on this part, the reason most pistol loads aren't as good as factory ammo is due to poor load selection, usually based on price. That's OK to do, if you are willing to live with the results. And, it's certainly safe. There are a few loads out there that work, even though the powder choice is not optimum. And, in the 45, there's long evidence of folks using a powder that's definitely too fast. It works, no doubt to that, but it also doesn't always work. And, using the right powder may cost a little more, but is worth it (in my mind anyways). The factories generally use the right powder and pass the cost on to the consumer.
Using a good progressive press isn't as bad as you think. No, I don't (and won't) make match rifle ammo on my Dillon. But, my father did, and strangely enough, it worked. Granted, he didn't size there, but he could have. And, this wasn't .5 MOA ammo for position shooting, it was .25 MOA ammo for benchrest score shooting. By the way, the "X ring" on those 100 yard targets is a .062" dot.
The bottom line is simple. For pistol or rifle ammo, you can make better than you can buy. Shotgun shells are different, but only due to hull deterioration (crimp mostly).
Reloading well isn't all that hard, it sure isn't "black magic".
I am not following "common logic". My views are the result of 500,000 plus rounds worth of reloading experience.