I've decided that I want to stick with the mATX form factor (specifically, the Fractal Define Mini C), so the 2080 Ti FTW 3 Ultra is out.
 
To that end, I think I've decided on the 2080 Ti XC2 Ultra. However..
 
1. Is the fact that it's a 3-slot card potentially "bad" for any given reason?
 
2. I'm not sure if I'll want to ever water cool it, but if I do, it'll probably be with some kind of AIO solution. In the case that I "might" do this in the future, does it make more sense to start with the 3-slot or the 2-slot card?
 
3. If I decided to go with an XC over an XC Ultra (2080 Ti), is the difference in temperature, and thus, noise, that great? Would the XC (non-ultra) likely be noisier or quieter than my Titan X Pascal?
 
4. Do the 2080 Ti hybrid units have a bad reputation for loud pump noise? Seems that I hear a lot of people complaining about pump noise with these things. I'm wondering if they're louder than my corsair h100i v2 (which is actually pretty quiet), for example, or if these people who are complaining are just looking for absolute silence? Are the pumps in these units noticeably worse and louder than other AIO coolers on the market?
 
So basically, if the hybrid coolers aren't horrible and aren't all excessively noisy (any moreso than my Corsair CPU cooler for example), then I might send this XC2 Ultra back and get a hybrid unit. Or, I could keep the XC2 Ultra for now and do a bracket + AIO solution later (though I don't like the idea of needlessly taking up 3 PCI slots if I choose to do that, and I don't want to cut one off lol).
 
Also, I would consider the FTW 3 Ultra hybrid, but, it is precisely 0.17mm shorter than the maximum space allowed for a GPU (in my Define Mini C case) IF I use a low profile, 15mm thick fan on my front radiator. So it would be a TIGHT squeeze and would only work in the measurements provided by EVGA, Corsair, and Fractal are all correct.
 
Just looking for some input here. Having a really tough time deciding which direction to go.