My first pistol was a gen 2 Glock 19. I carried it for years. It was a great gun that functioned flawlessly the entire time I owned it. Unfortunately, I sold it, and bought a gen 4 19 when they came out. Since then, I've been plagued with consistent stove pipes, and a lot of brass hitting me in the face. I've spent the last few years switching out ejectors, extractors, and springs. None of it has helped.
I would recommend searching for an earlier gen Glock, or a used gen 4 that has a few thousand rounds through it, as not all gen 4's are having issues. As far as the grip, the finger grooves are easy to get rid of with a Dremel.
You might also look at the S&W M&P series. They are another highly regarded pistol, that a LGS has advertised for $398, and there's also a $50 rebate if you're LE or .mil.