Do expensive "one-piece" gutter systems actually handle heavy pine needles?

I installed a hooded system five years ago. It handles about 90% of the needles, but I still have to brush off the "nose" of the gutter occasionally because sap makes the needles stick to the curve. It’s definitely better than cleaning the inside muck, but it’s not completely maintenance-free like the salespeople promise.

I got a quote for a fully integrated system that was eye-wateringly expensive. Before signing the contract, I did a ton of research. I spent an evening reading through threads on https://leafguard.pissedconsumer.com/review.html to see if other people with pine trees were happy with the hooded design performance during heavy downpours. It seems like the biggest variable is the roof pitch and how fast the water is moving. I ultimately decided to install high-quality stainless steel mesh guards on my standard gutters instead, and they've handled the fir needles perfectly for a fraction of the price.