OP: Your thread is more current than you think. I acquired my 469 last month to add to my collection (Oct 2020). I did the M&P Shield thing along with other manufacturer's polymer guns. Sure they work, but after blowing the side out of one, I decided to go back to an alloy frame carry piece. I looked at several 9mm guns and decided the S&W 2nd or 3rd generation model would be ideal for my purposes. After watching countless videos and studying the specs, I just did not see any major difference between the 2nd and 3rd gen guns that would make me choose one over the other. They both would meet my needs. I got my particular 469 mostly due to its relatively low price (GunBroker auction $330). My out the door price (gun+shipping+transfer fee+ tax) was $427, much less than any similar 9mm. Before getting the gun, I found a Ramline 15+1 magazine which is very cool. It uses a roll up spring that unrolls from the follower down into the magazine so that there is no spring filling the magazine at the base plate. I carry my 469 with 15 in the magazine without an extension to the magazine, of course, with one in the pipe. I agree that the grip is slippery but not a deal breaker. I've been thinking about a rubber grip sleeve but not crazy about the added bulk. As far as shootability goes, the old girl loaded and fired just fine, zero issues. Trigger action is smooth and that really short reset is terrific. The only thing I would like would be a spur hammer so I can cock the first round rather than having to shoot DA. I exchanged messages with a 469 owner who replaced the hammer with one from a 59. He said it fit without any issues.
Lastly, I had cataracts removed and new lenses installed in both eyes. My left eye lens was selected so I could focus on my car and motorcycle instrument cluster while the right eye lens was to focus at a distance. I was told that the brain would compensate for the different focal lengths and that vision would be clear. That is not what I'm experiencing. If I could do it over, I would have selected both eye lenses for near sightedness and use glasses for far sighted focusing. I wasn't thinking clearly when made the decision to select the left eye for the near sighted lens. This means when I aiming a gun, I'm using the 'weak' side eye. It works but sort of weird. I should have selected the right eye for the near sighted lens which is more natural for me. I guess the bottom line is with 16 rounds, I should hit the target at least once, HA!
Ramline MAW9215 15+1 magazine.
S&W specs 1988.
left to right: Kahr PM9, M&P Shield 9, 469
My 469 with factory installed Millet sights.
As introduced in the 1983 catalog.