I had a similar discussion last year about my Brute. In the end, I went for a 2" lift along with arched SuperATV A-arms. Honestly, the extra ground clearance from those arms made a more significant difference than I had anticipated, especially when tackling rocky creek beds and bumpy trails. The ride remained smooth too. A friend of mine decided to skip the arms and just went for the lift, and he's already bent a lower control arm on a tough trail. So, if you're planning to ride on rough terrain, I'd definitely say that arched arms are worth the investment.