Have you had any experience with the Smith & Wesson M&P line? I recently picked up an M&P 9L Pro C.O.R.E. with 5” bbl. It has the pre-milled slide to accept a red dot optical sight, e.g. Trijicon or Leupold, and the Performance Center trigger. I’d like to try the red dot but they cost almost as much as the gun. ;-) As with most guns, it shoots better than I do.
Only Smith center-fire semi I’ve had was a model 39 and that was 30 plus years ago. I don’t like polymer frame pistols and especially don’t like striker fired. Not saying they’re bad, just not for me.