It is probably fair to say that initially SpaceX was "forced" to perform hover slams due to thrust/weight ratios, but they seem to have embraced that option and turned it into a strength. For example, some of their landings now use three engines instead of one, getting slightly better fuel efficiency and "slamming" even more dramatically. If they were given the option today to do a slow landing like New Shepherd, I don't think they would take it. It will be interesting to see whether Blue goes to a faster landing profile when they start making orbital rockets that are actually performance sensitive.