Doubleshot,
You should probably try the Glock 43 in person. It' my wife's gun because it's easy to rack the slide. It is small and thin enough for IWB appendix. That's how I carried it before my wife stole it from me. I had bought her a Shield 9 so we traded.

The Glock is a lot easier to rack, easier to load the mags too. But I'm happy with the Shield. It's a nice little gun. Yeah, the Glock is a little thicker but it really is an easy IWB appendix carry. I don't find the recoil on the 43 to be bad at all and you don't have to run +Ps in it. The grip length isn't a problem if you get an extended mag or grip extension. But np, neither the Glock or the Smiths are sexy looking like the little Browning.

I don't know how the new S&W 380 is but 380's in general aren't known for their reliability, especially with hollow points. The only 380 I ever had that was totally reliable was a PPKS, but those aren't for shooters with weak or arthritic hands due to the field stripping method involved with them.