RE: How important is barrel length?
Amazingly I own/shoot, and my hunting/shooting pards own/shoot, more than one rifle/chambering....
And...Them/Me are/is guilty of seeking the best performance possible.
We've narrowed Gear choice down to that which works and tend not to frig around much obtaining Good Results.
I tend to dump a goodly portion of earnings into hunting and shooting....and feel no shame doing so.
I don't golf, nor drive a bass boat either, and couldn't conjure even a clue about that..........................