accuracy
With handguns, a longer barrel is not mechanically more accurate than a shorter barrel, and varying the sighting system does not effect how "accurate" the handgun may be.
However, as a rule, longer handgun barrels are easier for us to "shoot" more accurately, as correct sight alignment is easier to obtain with the front sight further out, allowing better alignment of the system. Additionally as we age and our eyes loose their ability to focus up close, longer tubes are a wee bit more forgiving, for a while anyhow.
Practically speaking, 3" to 4 5/8" revolvers have always been my preference, due to their ease of carry in a strong side hip holster. Anything longer was a nuisance in and out of vehicles, ATV, chairs, etc. When longer barrels were popular, the old swivel holster was used to avoid the aggravation, and crossdraw and shoulder/chest rigs exist as well, but the swivel is an anachronism, and I never liked strapping up like a plow mule to carry a handgun. Crossdraw works if one does not expect to be in physical struggles, but I cannot warm up to the idea of presenting the handgun butt first to a subject as a duty firearm.
These days, I shoot a 5-1/2" Ruger Single Six or a 5" 1911 about the best WITHOUT my spectacles, but struggle with anything shorter. I am in the process of putting a red dot on a G20 and expect great things.....if the dot holds up.