For long term camping, I wouldn't even consider no slide.
I don't have experience with any slides other than the 2 old AF campers we had/have and they haven't had any slide issues at all.
Adding a couple/few hundred lbs doesn't automatically kick you into a diesel Dooley. That's the weight cops talking.
Insulation is poor and when we camped in sub freezing temps, we left the slide out 1 night and the furnace never shut off (until it killed the old batteries) and subsequent nights just pulled the slide in at night when heat was more valuable than floor space.