8 year old lab tore his CCL three days ago and we have two completely different surgical opinions plus a third vet saying try conservative, i need help thinking through this

Background. Wally is an 8 year old yellow lab, 78 lbs, lean for a lab (his vet has called him "appropriately weighted" for years), generally healthy, no other ortho history. Tuesday afternoon i was throwing the chuck-it for him in our back yard, he made one of his usual sprint turns to chase the ball, and he came back on three legs. By the time we got him inside he was non weight bearing on his right rear. ER vet that night did x-rays, no fracture, drawer test positive, diagnosed full CCL rupture. He has been on gabapentin and rimadyl since wednesday morning, restricted to crate plus leash walks only.

Where i need help. We have now had three opinions in 48 hours and they are different enough that i am stuck. Opinion 1 is the orthopedic surgeon the ER vet referred us to. He recommends TPLO at 5500 dollars right knee plus likely the left within 12 to 18 months because the other side has a 40 to 60 percent chance of rupture, total potential cost north of 11000 dollars. He said TPLO at Wally size is the only thing he would do, no debate. Opinion 2 is a second orthopedic surgeon i called for a second opinion this morning. He also recommends TPLO but is open to a lateral suture (extracapsular repair) for 2800 dollars with the caveat that long term outcome is "probably not as good" but "probably acceptable" for a dog Wally age if cost is a factor. He has done both for thirty years. Opinion 3 is our regular vet who has known Wally his whole life. She said for an 8 year old lab a meaningful trial of conservative management (8 to 12 weeks strict rest plus weight tracking plus eventual rehab) is reasonable as a first step and that some dogs stabilize with scar tissue and a custom brace and never need surgery. She also said if conservative does not work you have not really lost anything because Wally would have needed the rest period before surgery anyway.

What i actually need help with. I am not asking which one of them is right, i know that is not a question anyone on the internet can answer for my dog. I am asking from people who have actually been here, what questions did you wish you had asked the surgeons that you didnt think to ask, what red flags or green flags should i be looking for between vets and surgeons, did anyone go conservative and have it actually work for a dog this size, did anyone do the lateral suture and regret it, did anyone do TPLO and have a complication that wasnt mentioned. I have insurance that covers most of the surgery cost up to a limit but i still need to make the right call not the easy one. He is my best friend