I recently went through this very same issue.
I have/had a 3" 696, 4" 624, a 4" 66-1, and a 3" model 13. If you reload, the cost difference in ammo is not that great. I was able to make .38/357 for about $4.80 a box of 50. The .44 special was just over $5 per box. Local sources of ammo for the .44spl are few and far between. I was able to find one shop within my normal travels that stocks .44spl and it was the ultramax cowboy loads about $25/per 50. Good .38 or .357 ammo can be found just about anywhere.
A few things helped me make up my mind. The greatly escalating price of 696's was a major part of it. I picked up my 696 for roughly $400 and sold it for $850 about a year later. The forcing cone is diminutive and I never cared for the full underlug of the L-frames, but thats just my personal preference.
For my .357's I normally shoot and carry mid-range magnums or old stock Corbon .38 +P+ 158 gr LSWC just over 1000 fps.
YMMV.