Alternatives?
The OP wasn't asking about alternative
guns but hey, if you're thinking alternatives, you might as well cover the bases.
In that spirit . . .
There's always the Beretta 3032 Tomcat (.32 ACP), tip-up barrel auto.
Very compact. Centerfire. And starting to get into acceptable self-defense power territory.
Ammo in the 60 grain range. Of course, their MSRP is in the $375-to-$450 range, and some may find that tight, but the question didn't specify
cheaper alternatives.
And, of course, there are a couple of Kel-tec pistols in this same size range, the P3AT and PF9.
With those available, and given their affordability, I think I'd have trouble convincing myself that I wanted to carry a rimfire.
BTW, in speaking with someone who's carried and fired the NAA in .22 WMR, I got the distinct impression that this round is awfully loud fired from a short pistol. Louder than (in his words) the .32 ACP from a small pistol.
I'd be interested in hearing confirmation of that.
You guys that shoot the NAA, what's the "loudness quotient?"