Revolvers take neglect better than semiautos, but semiautos take abuse better than revolvers.
Because the revolver is human-powered, it is generally less likely to fail due to less than adequate cleaning or pocket debris. However, the many small parts that make it work are subject to wear and breakage.
Semiautos depend on a balance of slide weight, recoil spring strength, magazine spring strength, and cartridge energy to function. Add some crud-induced friction, and you have problems. However, the parts taking the abuse are bigger and less delicate.
For the past several years, I have put an average of about 7,000 rounds per year downrange through various guns. The vast majority of that total is through semiautos, but my revolvers go back to the factory for service more often.
Based on the above, the J-frame could be superior for:
1) Coat pocket carry without a holster. With a shrouded hammer, you could even fire through a coat pocket without risk of jamming the gun or catching coat fabric between the hammer and rest of the gun.
2) Ankle carry (where it will be exposed to all kinds of dirt and water.
3) At least for now, you can get a Crimson Trace Lasergrip for the S&W but not the Rohrbaugh, although I am not really a big fan of lasers (what if you and your companion have identical dots?).
Other than that, the R-9 is the closest thing I have seen yet to making the .38 snub obsolete.
