I wouldn't get hung up over recoil operated or gas operated. Gas operated guns work fine if you keep them clean - and why wouldn't you? I have an FN SLP as I wanted (need for medical reasons) the least recoil possible in a reliable, fast operating platform. The FN meets those criteria.
However, I took it a step further to reduce felt recoil and improve reliability. The first thing I did was change the manufacturer's recoil pad for a Kick Eez. Then I lubed the action with a petroleum-based gun oil and shot medium to heavy rounds for 200 rounds with the heavy gas piston to seat the bolt in the receiver and break-in the action. Then I cleaned the barrel, action, and piston, and relubed the action. I shot two hundred rounds of medium to light loads (1-1/8 and 1 ounce) with the heavy gas piston in place. For the last 50 rounds I randomly intermixed the loads.
As a final test I shot intermixed slugs, #1 and 00 buckshot, and 1-ounce #7 birdshot loads. Between myself and friend we put another 50 rounds of mixed loads without a failure to feed, including several "speed runs" to see how fast we could make the action operate. We could get 5 hulls in the air simultaneously through three test runs.
I then cleaned the barrel, action, and the piston, and took the gun and the two gas pistons to SRM to have them install a Sure Cycle system and do their general tune up that includes: taking the springs and O-rings out of the pistons and sealing the pistons, working on the extractor, lapping the bolt, replacing the magazine spring and follower, and changing the loading gate spring.
After getting the gun home, I cleaned the gun, and lubed the action with a light coat of SLiP 2000 EWL grease, and everything else that needed lubing with SLiP 2000 EWL oil.
The Sure Cycle system has improved the gun cycle speed and reduced the recoil a bit further. This has helped in keeping the gun on target better while allowing the gun to function with intermixed loads of light to heavy. It will put 6 hulls in the air simultaneously if you can pull the trigger that fast.
Taking the springs and O-rings out of the pistons has eliminated failure points while the Sure Cycle system and work on other portions of the gun have improved feed and cycling reliability while reducing felt recoil.
The questions to ask yourself is how reliable and controllable does the gun need to be for you to feel comfortable? After breaking in the FN, and with the additional work and the testing, I know the gun is reliable and easy to keep aimed on target. All you have to do is keep it clean - and that's not difficult.