If you don't want to give up your comfortable factory ride, the easy solution is a "top hat spacer." These go by different names depending on the forum you're on but basically it's a spacer that mounts on top of the strut assembly. This is NOT a pre-load spacer. Those will kill your ride.
The top hat spacer is typically what is used for leveling kits. You take the entire strut assembly out, bolt it on top, and then reinstall the assembly. No need to take the spring out, no spring compressors needed, nothing like that. If you want to "lift" instead of just level, you can add a small block to the rear too.
It's been my experience that any lifts that replace the springs and struts ride firmer than stock. Nature of the beast I guess. Some people prefer it, some don't.
As for functionality. Like you, I don't go mudding. It's been a long time since I did that. Fun as it was, I've outgrown it. Not worth the cleanup and still having mud caked in every void for months. That said, I do take my truck off the beaten path from time to time. Typically I'm going hunting, hiking or camping. Regardless of the activity, if I'm going down a trail, or oil well road, and there is a mud hole I can drive around, I will. I'm only going though it if I have to. That's not to say these trails aren't a bit sloppy, but I'm talking mud that's partly up the rim not over the bumpers and partly up the doors.
I have 2.5" on the front and 1.5" on the rear. I could have gone smaller on the rear but I waned to keep a little rake so I don't sag when the bed is loaded. I think 1" for the rear would have been plenty for that. If you want it actually level you can use .5" on the rear or just use 2" up front and do nothing on the back.
Anyway, here's mine with 2.5/1.5. It rides just like it did when I rolled it off the lot, and it handles light off-roading just fine.
View attachment 121131
View attachment 121129