And don't forget tire load range AND tire pressures.
A harsh ride can be all of the usual things you think with the suspension, but tires are a huge part of the rolling feel of a vehicle.
A Load Range E tire for instance is going to ride harsher on a relatively light Bronco ("light" being compared to what the tires are made for that is) at any pressure, vs a Load Range C tire at 25-30 psi.
By that same token, a C, or a D tire infated to 40-60 psi is not going to ride very well either.
And then you get to just plain old tires. Old tires ride like crap almost every time.
There is also still the Rancho 9000 option.
These are 10-way adjustable shocks that go from mild to wild with a turn of the knob. Over a HUGE range of valving ratings. It's probably the most versatile sub-$100 shock out there, but just is not the cat's meow in any of the settings from what I've found.
Some others feel the same way, while others love them. But it's hard to go wrong from a pure versatility standpoint.
I'm still a Bilstein fan, but I too feel that the standard ones are a bit light in the front if you have a heavy bumper and winch, or like to drive fast on bumpy dirt roads.
But their general "feel" is superior to most as long as they're valved appropriately for the rig.
I have not personally tried stiffer Bilsteins yet, but plan to do both that and softer valved ones in a dual setup (since I already have dual mounts) just to play with and see what the pros and cons for each are in my particular case.
Good luck with the decision. Tough choice.
Paul