There was a 'Shooting USA' program last week on my local cable channel. It covered many aspects of IPSC, including the customized guns, costs, and many segments of the participiants in actual matches.
It's odd to see a target react when the muzzle of the pistol is already aimed at another target.
Besides 'stupid fast' some of those new STI customized guns are beautiful to look at.
edit: You're right, I will never be as fast as Rob Leatham. But I think that a bonus of combat shooting as it relates to street self defense is that this 'muscle memory' we all love can be applied for a guy with a knife at 21 feet. We all should be in yellow anyway and we should be aware of a guy trying to close distance.
My little .380 might be our last choice for serious combat. But I will have it, it is a variant of a 1911, and I have poured tens of thousands of rounds down range with that style of pistol. I use Gold Dots, I have an extra clip and I know how to do a tactical reload.
If an attack broke out, I would rather be an old guy with IPSC experience than a young buck with a knife.
Besides, shooting in quasi-competition at your local club is just plain fun. I miss it. I still have my stuff, and I had a new style holster that covered the trigger I could enter 'single stacker' games. Yeah, I'd probably be Class C.