To be honest, I hunt and carry the full lenght Redhawks just about every time I am in the country. I have them in 41, 44, and 45 Colt and I use them mainly for feral hogs. They will all reach out to ranges most have no business shooting and reliably put the smack down on any critter big enough to draw a fine bead on.
As for cutting back the barrels, personally I think they are fine where they are. But like anything else what you feel might be entirely different. I always carry cross draw fashion and have no problems with them getting in the way while I am driving or doing other chores around the farm. Again this is me.
When my pop passed I inherited his rifles and handguns. I personally have shot several of them since and enjoyed the time I spent afield remembering the times we spent together. I have had no want need or desire to change them up in any fashion. Again this is me. Since his passing I have purchased everything else I have wanted, and had it built or modified to the way I want it. I figured pop had a reason for picking out what he did, and now at 50yrs old I am still finding plenty of things that pop did or said which were right on the money. I very rarely questioned him in what he did or the reasoning behind it.