I stay away from coated drill bits, TiN being the most common. I feel most manufacturers use it to make up for a poor base metal on the rest of the bit. I agree about the Cobalt, but HSS with lube will do the job for most any metal. I've punched 30+ holes in thin 316 stainless steel using a hand sharpened HSS bit and it barely slowed down. There are 2 brands I stand by, but there are plenty of others who are acceptable. I believe Triumph Twist Drill Company and Greenfield Tap and Die are miles ahead of the competition. As for split point vs. standard, self centering isn't an issue because you should center punch your holes anyways. If you are going to be using a hand drill, the split point bits require less pressure which is a huge plus. If you own a drill press, the ease of sharpening of the standard point will be of more benefit.