the frame and recoil plug I don't get how they failed.
I have seen that failure on colt slides twice before. a good friend of mine in colorado has a stainless colt. his failed in the same location twice, once the entire front of the pistol came off. Basically to get around the galling issues early stainless guns had Colt added more carbon. Which in the wrong circumstances can work poorly. causing embrittlement issues.
Do a google search for "cracked slide on a stainless 1911" , this is not a new problem. If you looked at the images in the OP you will see that just behind the dustcover portion of the slide all the machining sit done relatively square. If you look at the inside of the slide of a smith and wesson M&P, or a glock, several other brands all of the machine cuts around the slide are done with a radius. This helps eliminate stress.
I'm not surprised at all. Colt's guns are overpriced crap. Everyone knows that. The fact that they're even taken seriously at all is a complete joke. They would have to shut down production for probably a year and completely, and I really mean completely, revitalize the entire production of civilian guns for them to ever produce a decent product again.
The 1911 market is getting pretty bad. Kimber raised the bar in the 1990s but has since seriously dropped the ball. Springfield Armory's U.S. made models and STI might be all we have left. Every other company is putting out complete junk, especially Taurus and Colt.
Well "those" pistols did not win, but I will say it is definitly a big issue. Although I will defend a 1911 a everyday of the week. Also I own a Glock, Sig, Ruger, S&W and a Colt. And I love them all with no favorites.