Given that a number of issues have been covered in this thread, I will offer some opinions (opinions = YMMV) based on uniform and plain clothes duty carry, and off duty/retirement carry, revolvers to semi-autos.
My career was spent in a jurisdiction located on the pacific coast, which means salt water and air. Thus, when stainless steel came along it was a revolutionary step. Stainless of course is not rust proof, but it is sufficiently corrosion resistant, so with reasonable care that is no longer a concern.
Size/weight is a major issue. Bigger, heavier means more capacity and more comfortable (thus accurate) shooting. But that weight and bulk also means less comfort carrying and more challenge to conceal. Obviously a J frame S&W (especially an air weight) is going to be more comfortable to carry, but at the cost of limited capacity in a firearm that is difficult and uncomfortable to shoot relative to heavier, bulkier options.
My department issued 2 1/2" S&W model 66s for plain clothes and command personnel carry. Many allied agencies did the same. Those who were exposed to this firearm concluded that a short barrel K frame was the ideal compromise of capacity, power, handling and concealability. I agreed. Our department had experienced a lack of reliability with our S&W 66s, which lasted until we transitioned to the S&W 686 for patrol division carry. At least then there were then fewer K frames to be problematic. I wanted to buy a revolver of this configuration but without the problems. so I bought a stainless 2 3/4" Ruger Security Six. This was the solution I was seeking. Great revolver that I still have.
Time passes. Before we transitioned to semi-auto pistols, we went through a period where members could purchase and carry their own semi-autos, with a fairly wide choice being allowed. I was given the opportunity to carry a second generation S&W 9mm pistol that the courts had awarded to the department. IIRC it was a model 467. This was a compact 3 1/2" pistol with an 12 round magazine capacity via a double stack magazine. The action was terrible. But that double stack grip fit my large hand perfectly, so even though I could never own it, I paid a gunsmith to give it an action job. The result was perfection. With that compact high capacity pistol with the large grip frame and smooth action I really chewed up the center of the targets during department shoots. I don't know how that pistol would have shot from a Ransom rest relative to any of the revolvers I used, but in my hands at our 25 yard maximum distance it grouped tighter, more easily and quicker.
The transition to Glocks, the full size 40 cal (can't recall the model number) meant the S&W went back to evidence. But it was too good to just give up, so I bought the then-current third generation iteration, the 6906. I had the same gunsmith do the same action job, and I got the same results.
I carried that pistol into retirement until I bought a Glock 26. The Glock was even more compact and lighter, albeit with slightly less capacity, and probably even tougher, although I never abuse my firearms. The double stack grip and relatively light, though different, trigger gave me similar handling characteristics to my 6906.
I still carry that Glock. I have not found anything more suitable, but I have not been looking either. The 6906 is now a very enjoyable range pistol. I still believe S&W hit it out of the ball park with that design.
So, to wrap up all this. Here are my thoughts: If I were to return to carrying a revolver, I think the K frame size/weight is the ideal compromise between capability and bulk. If one chooses a revolver, any revolver, the issue of capacity has to addressed. During my career I lived and worked in an area with a lot of gang activity, so I carried one, and sometimes two, speed loaders. If I were going to carry a S&W J frame, I would put a Hogue Monogrip on it so my large hands could hang on to it when shooting, or I would go with a Ruger SP 101. As much as I like the S&W L frames, and I have one (albeit customized so for paper punching only) we are getting into size/weight creep relative to the K frames.
But unless one simply can't abide a semi-auto, a compact semi-auto, like the Glock 26/27, or other similar since numerous are available, seems the ideal combination of fire power, weight and concealability.
The challenge that each individual must resolve is the contradiction between shooting ability, comfort and concealability, weighed against too much gun and thus the easy rationalization to not carry it.
It is of no benefit if one's EDC is left at home, so that must dictate the final decision.
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