Thanks. I looked at at least 1 video on how to remove slide play to apparently resolve that issue by ensuring the slide and barrel remain aligned.
I was instead considering getting something like the USM rail and a red dot sight (although that lot is quite bulky), or just something simple like an under-mount laser.
Of course that presupposes that the barrel is rigid in relation to the frame... but I haven't read anything suggestion that that is not the case.