I live in central Tx where the heat gets up to 100+ on bad weeks. The cold only goes around freezing, not much below.
This state tends to kill batteries. I think my last one lasted maybe 3.5 years in the long-gone Kia. I also drive 18-19k mi/yr so the battery stays well topped up.
So is the AGM type worth it for lifespan? I'm fairly certain my car doesn't have tons of features like others. It's fairly basic in that regard. Just a touch radio with your standard modern conveniences. The AGM runs just under 2x the cost ($79 vs $155)
I never do battery maintenance, but may be willing to learn. Sulfuric acid is a thing I'm tentative about being in possible contact with.
For most people I don't think AGM isn't worth the extra cost. 3.5y isn't unheard of for battery life, depending on the manufacturer. Cold is worse for batteries than heat.
Doesn't matter if you have AGM or regular, they all contain sulfuric acid. Under normal circumstances there's no reason why you would come in contact with it. Battery maintenance isn't really a thing for most people, unless your vehicle isn't being driven for a month or more.
I'd go with the conventional battery.
