I took my P2C class this weekend (from Loren at MN Tactics) and fired a Glock (model 23?) .40 cal, a 1911, and a pocket sized Kel-Tec .380auto. Right after class my girlfriend wanted to go gun shopping and I was happy to grant that request. 
I think I've evolved to a $300 price range despite my earlier comments. One thing that scares me about the Hi-Point is using the firing pin as the extractor, and the difficulty of carrying the Hi-Point should I decide to carry (ever or often). After the Hi-Point I really wanted a S&W SD9-VE (new replacement for Sigma, reviews say it is a big improvement over the old Sigma). Then I saw the EAA Witness at Cabellas on sale for $299 and that reminded me of my research into that gun...
By the end of the month we will have made a trip to Bills to rent a couple more (.357 and a CZ-75, maybe a SD9 or Sigma if they have one). I'm torn between the Witness, SD9-VE, and a 4" .357 (probably Windicator or Rossi for price)... I'm going to have to shoot more before making up my mind... and then just to keep things interesting I'm also looking at the Taurus 905 (9mm revolver).
I like the fact that with a .357 I could shoot different rounds for price and ammo availability during the Zombie apocalypse (insert your favorite ammo scare here), and the most accurate I've ever shot was out of a .357 revolver...not to mention a revolvers reliability and simplicity. I don't like that .357/.38spl is not 9mm (for ammo cost). I like that the SD9 is DAO for consistency and that it has the large easy to grip slide, not to mention it would probably be the easiest to carry (conceal and find holster for) when compared to a 4" .357 or a Witness, but I worry about my accuracy with DAO (although I'm sure that could be solved with practice). As for the Witness, the man behind the counter at the second gun shop we went to said he has both a CZ-75 and a Witness... (Witness being a clone of the 75) he confirmed my idea that if I like shooting a rental 75 I will be just as happy with a Witness for 1/2 the money, but I did find it a little hard to rack with that tiny slide.
Even though we didn't shoot Loren's S&W Model 10, my girlfriend is looking at a "hammerless" or shrouded hammer 2" .38spl for the simplicity & reliability (and the fact that she saw a couple purple ones). She's very reasonable and will probably go the .357 route for the ability to shoot .38 spl at the range and keep .357 in it at home if she likes shooting a 2" .357 at the range.
Decisions decisions....