I think it depends on how you set up your sling/sight/light. I had a JP hand guard with only enough rail for the front sight, and it limited my options. I changed it out for the MI SSK, with full top rail. This opened up enough room for my front sight and a 12 o'clock X300 mount. I run my sling in the built in sling mounts, but if your hand guard doesn't have one, its easy to mount a sling off the top rail as well. If all you will ever want to mount on top is your sight and you want to try something different I'd say mess around with one of the options you mentioned, but if you think it may be a possibility I don't see what it takes away to have the full length rail.
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