Well this isn’t an either/or choice.
Who’s (the intruder(s)) in the house?
How many?
Are they all in one room or searching various places in your house?
Do you know how they are armed?
How many in the home will participate in defense of the home?
Level of training and experience of those individuals?
In our home, the ready-arms are:
* a Mossberg Maverick with 8 in the tube and 1 in the chamber. (yes I prefer the gun to be in battery) It has a gun light
* A Sig P220 .45 ACP with a 12 round extended mag and one in the chamber (in battery.) No gun light
* An AR pattern rifle in .223 with a 30 round mag, ACOG and gun light.
I prefer to have the guns in battery for speed, somewhat for stealth. It’s just like carrying - by the time I get to the firearm, I may not have time to chamber a round.
I’m a good carpenter and sheetrock guy. I can also repair wiring and plumbing. Not worried about damage to the house at that point. The intruders certainly won’t be worried about it.
One last point - in a home defense situation, it’s REALLY likely you won’t have time to don hearing protection. A shotgun will not deafen you fired inside a room. A .45 will. It’s even painful outdoors.
Your mileage may vary.
There you go. I had my stock 870 tube magazine extended to 8 rounds and 1 chambered. Plus a UTG ELP38 wide spread blinding light. For those who live in suburbs, I don't worry too much about penetration depending on load. And I certainly don't give a shit about messing up my belongings. If the intruders are inside, it is life or death for my Wife and myself. The light is a great addition no matter how many intruders.