Absolutely nothing wrong with the LoD sliders, they have always been a great heavy duty choice for those wanting a true step built into a slider, or for those wanting to stick with a "one mfg's parts theme" during their build, since they do make great looking and completely functional heavy duty bumpers too. However, regarding your #2 bullet statement, there is no reason to powder coat EVO's sliders if your budget is tight. Many people just prep, prime and spray paint them at home. Its actually a great option to consider doing yourself since sliders are an intended sacrificial piece of armor on your rig that will become scraped when used in any terrain. Once there is superficial paint damage, you just do the touch ups yourself as a part of regular jeep maintenance.
