Consiering your post adedendum in italics, I'd recommend looking at Kahr's offerings - their compact all-metal series is under that price - enough so that you could get a great trigger in it, some mags and your favorite holster. I have an MK9 that is a great gun, and well slimmer than a G26 (although heavier). The trigger will likely improve greatly with some work, though. Their customer service was top-notch for me - I sent them a 6-year old gun (5 yr warranty at the time) that I noticed had a crack in the slide between the barrel and guide rod openings, told them up front the purchase date, they just said "send it to us - we'll make it right." They replaced the entire slide and internals. Granted, 'cracked slide' is not the best advertisement, but I found it on a thread; Kahr actively noticed it was an issue with some of their earliest slides, fixed them free of charge. They even polished up a non-related blemish that my gun came with new in box. it looked like someone had dropped the frame on straight down - a little gouge in the metal. Looks factory new, now. This repair was done over a year ago - the gun I bought was one of the very early models they produced. I have read less favorable (although overall favorable) reports about their polymer-framed guns.
I haven't read about their services, but I have looked into C&S Gunsmithing's Kahr trigger jobs - seems like a good try.
That said, I more often carry a custom G26 with a Clipdraw. I still think it's worth at least going into a gunshop that has one and handling a Kahr, if for no other reason than ruling it out compared to the Glock subcompacts. I prefer the Glock because I can change the parts I like easily. I put a SS guide rod on it, NY1 trigger and 3.5 lb connector, straight-8 night sights...etc. Also, my larger-framed Glock holsters work with it.
