My Pathfinder is a unique collection of parts that mostly works for me.
That said, here is my input.
My 93 when I bought it in 99 had 128k miles on it and I assume the factory installed switchable shocks were the original units. I never noticed a change in mine when switched between sport and touring. I did the tests and was able to hear all 4 click when the switch was operated, just felt the same to me.
I did a 3" suspension lift using the kit with 30% stiffer torsion bars and 3" coils from AC about 20 years ago. It came with a set of the Rancho 5000 shocks. I hated them, just didn't work well for me. I eventually changed the rear lift coils out with a pair of front coils made for a late 70's early 80's Ford F150. I trimmed the pigtails off to fit my mounts. They gave me lift I was looking for, but a very harsh ride unless I had 700+ lbs in the back or a trailer hooked up with good tongue weight. Also had a tendency for the right spring to fall out when flexed out. I had found the rear shocks were a little too short for the lift and so got a pair of ProComp ES3000's for the rear. These shocks did ride better than the Ranchos for me. Then I got tired of the issues the Ford springs had, and went back to the first lift coils with a spacer to give me the rear lift I was after. That setup just was not working for me, so got a pair of 4" lift coils for the front of a 90's Grand Cherokee. I trimmed a coil off with the pigtails to fit my stock mounts. They gave me the 5" lift I was after and I found the ride to be a bit firm, but not bad. I tend to carry a couple hundred pounds of "stuff" in my truck so worked for me. Had one shock finally blow it's seals and die. I picked up a pair of Bilsteins that came off a new 17 Titan Pro4x for the great price of free (the parts department at the dealership I was working at was tired of the pile of them sitting there as take-offs from the Titans that had lifts installed and was throwing them out). I had to do some grinding and drilling on the bushing eyes to fit the mounting studs on my truck, but they fit well and work great for me.
Up front, I finally broke the right front shock a little while back. Found a pair of ProComps and have been satisfied with them.
I started with a 3" suspension lift, and I have maxed the front out. It has been a miserable experience for me over the years. I have gone through a LOT of tierods, idler arms, ball joints, center links, bushings, CV boots/axles and such. I also installed a 3" bodylift about a year after the suspension lift. If I was to do it again, I would leave the suspension near stock, probably just turn it up about 1 1/2" and do the 3" bodylift. The bodylift gave me room for larger tires, the suspension lift didn't. It also has made a lot of things easier to get at and work on especially around the engine.