The landscape where we live is IMO a prime consideration.
Where we live in NH the landscape is uneven and heavily wooded. As I walk the anything-but-flat dead-end road we live on, finding a potential shot longer than about 100 yards is almost non-existent. As I drive the local roads (they're predominantly curvy and hilly through densely wooded terrain), it's mostly the same with few exceptions where a true long-range shot potential exists. Bottom line is if trouble comes to my neck of the woods, it's most likely going present itself in the 25 to 200 yard envelope.
If we lived in flatter/more-open part of the country, it would drive my gear selection and skill building efforts differently.