Though not Defenders, I have thousands of rounds through compact .45s (Star PD, Detonics Combat Master), and I wouldn't be too concerned about recoil, unless you have arthritis or some other condition that would make you especially recoil sensitive.
Because the slide is very light, there's not much muzzle flip, but because the gun is light, there's a good, rearward push, sharper than for a heavier gun.
Practical accuracy is hurt by the short sight radius, and most factory guns have lousy sights, so you might want to choose replacement sights that allow you to better use the accuracy that is there.
Of course, there's the argument that such guns are not made for pinpoint accuracy, so no reason to expect to hit anything out past 20-25 yards.