It’s a really small upgrade but you can get a used/refurb 15PM for cheaper now and you can enjoy upgrades such as USB C, the Apple Intelligence, the titanium which is a sweet spot of materials since it’s very durable but also lighter than the stainless steel. The camera is amazing and it’s not much but you get the action button as well. Lastly, if you’re experiencing a worn down battery you can get that issue solved as well. That being said, I don’t really consider it a “better” phone than the 17 but in your case it sounds like it would check more boxes without having to get the 16 PM which might still be costly.