bottlerocket,
There is a wealth of valuable information on this website. There are so many people here who are generous with their knowledge and opinions. The opinions you've found here are all well thought out and each have their valid points. The dilemma for all of us is, ultimately, we have to make our own decisions and that may require another final approach....
I have no idea where you live or if you would have access to a large gun store that may have all the frame sizes in their inventory. That would probably be your best option -- to handle and try out all the guns you may be interested in.
That would be important because they all feel different from one another and fit everyone's hands differently. Like shoes, no one can tell you what fits you best until you try them.
What everyone seems to lose track of is any gun doesn't have to be a final choice. If you decide you made the wrong first choice you can always add a second gun or sell your first one. That's the beauty of all the choices S&W provides us.
I have many guns in my collection of all frames, barrel lengths and different finishes. Each has particular features uniquely better than other frames in one category or another.
Only you should finally decide what you like, what fits your intended use best, what gives you the performance you want, and what feels best in your hand....
If you can make an effort to find and handle guns you are considering personally I'm sure you will make the right decision.... then let us see a picture and give us a report when you make your final choice....
Hope this helped.....
