I've recently gone from preferring gov't models to commanders. For me, the balance is better, it indexes faster and it just feels more manageable to shoot.
The gov't frame may seem like it fits, but the guide rod won't have enough distance to travel through its stroke and so it will get banged up. Cutting back the rails and dust cover is not important, but you will have to mill the spring channel in the frame back about 1/4" or so to allow the guide rod to travel its full distance. If you have a decent machinist, it shouldn't be too hard to do. You will also need to fit the new slide to the frame. But, once you cut back the tunnel you have a commander frame that can't be used with a gov't slide.