Full length guide rods do absolutely nothing for the accuracy or reliability of the gun. Period. The accuracy lies in the fit of the lugs to the slide stop and the bushing to the barrel and slide. The recoil spring cannot kink inside the gun. The recoil spring guide is held straight by the spring tension against it, and it guides the back of the spring. The front of the spring is kept straight and guided by the OD of the spring in the spring tunnel of the slide. The gap between the end of the guide and the back of the spring tunnel is about 1/4". The spring cannot kink. If it is then there is something else wrong. Either in disassembly or that the undrlug of the barrel is too long and contacts the back of the spring guide, forcing it downward. Group grippers are a abomination, in the sense that they are using the link to lock the gun up into the lugs, when that is the job of the underlug anf slide stop. The link is just a toggle to pull the barrel out of battery and push it back up. Not a locking point.
The only thing a full length rod does is add weight up front which will help sight tracking and muzzle flip to a limited extent.
I use full length rods in my match guns, and use the standard plug and guide in my carry guns. that way the gun can be stripped easier, a one handed press cocking/clearing drill can be done easier.
Brian