Need advice on Mini-ITX X870 boards//concern about Asus EZ release

[ScrapperChampion]

There are two boards according to partpicker that meet what I'm looking for. The "Gigabyte X870I AORUS PRO ICE" and the "Asus ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI" are the boards I'm looking at.

My question is what is the functional difference between the two boards? Aside from aesthetics, I understand majority of the obvious aspects are similar but what are some of the more fine differences I might overlook at a glance?

I'm planning on doing a CH160 build with an air cooler and seeing how that functions with an 9800X3D, most of the other parts are being repurposed from another build.

 

Another question sort of related is the GPU wear on the Asus EZ release. I heard it was bad, and then Gigabyte JP kind of mocked them on socials for it. Social media kind of draws drastic opinions so I'm hoping for some rational opinions on whether or not it's an overblown problem. I have a ATX build list being made for a workstation and the board being asked for is an Asus one with the EZ release. The new E-ATX Asus board apparently removes a metal piece from the EZ release that's on on the previous boards and makes me wonder if I should just ask to reconsider the board manufacturer here.