I'm not a fan of slime or similar products, but that's not relavant for the OP.
I'm in New York, and even though there's plenty of glass and other hazards, flats are still relatively rare events, occurring less than once per 1,000 likes, even when riding light tubulars and clinchers.
The OP is in Colorado where thorns and goat heads are common and small leak punctures happen on a regular basis. I suspect that if I liver there, I too would be considering flats to be a nuisance as opposed to occasional inconvenience.
As for pumps vs. CO2, I prefer pumps, but carry CO2, using the pump to come to about 30-40psi, which lets me inspect the seating and fit, then I top off with CO2 because it's easier.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.