A consideration is ammo availability.

I cannon find 44 special to save my life in the stores around me.

I have a Model 29 that I love to shoot. Personally I like the magnums, but after a hundred rounds my wrist gets sore. I started reloading to offset the ammo costs, and a side benefit is loading light 44 mag with a bulky powder so it fills the case despite the light load. I use this to introduce the M29 to people who want to try it without the mag blast and recoil.

Pet light load:
240 Berry plated cast lead bullet
19 grains IMR 4227

That powder is bulky enough so that a double charge overflows the case, and keeps the case empty space low.

This a fun plinking round that people like to shoot. Plus, I like that I can volume shoot without hurting my wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome)

If you buy a 44 mag you have a lot of options. With a 44 special ammo can be difficult to find, and while you can hot load a 44 spcl it will never reach a factory 44 mag for performance.

I like choices.