Ruger can try to push their American pistol line all they want but that gun is doomed. it's a textbook example of "design by committee". complete absence of vision for the design, just a bunch of random crap pieced together. aside from being hideous, it's a 30+ oz polymer pistol that offers a worse bore axis and chunkier design than their SR9. With the insane amount of competition in the striker market, I anticipate the American pistols will drop in price and ultimately fizzle out.
if you haven't had a chance to get the Ruger American in your hand, I highly recommend feeling it. the gun holds like a brick.
At the same time Ruger is smart to continue expanding their 1911 line. while I personally don't like any of their 1911's, at least they have name/brand recognition and a firearm for which people are interested.