So two very different choices . The folding doors are awesome but they do not have bug screens so keep that in mind. I would need to see your space too. IMO the folding doors are best in a more contemporary space. Some pictures would really help. I do not know what the climate is like in Ark. I think checking some reviews on the folding doors would be a good idea to answer the air tightness. I do think install is probably easier with the sliders since they are a more usual choice so yes the install is a big issue . After all that what can your budget handle and how important is the ability to open the whole wall up

Which type is better is up to you really and what you are looking for in a door. Bifold will give you a larger clear opening but the panels will need to stack somewhere and that will take up floor space. Slider will not have the stacking issue but the clear opening will be reduced. For something that expensive and large I would definitely have it installed by an authorized installer. I would look for a local higher end window and door store. You do not say what finish you are looking at but you may want to look into aluminum like a Solar Innovations or Arcadia, or if staying with wood clad aluminum Marvin. Quality wise in my opinion all will be a much better product than Pella. Just my .02.

I have double sliding doors and love them - they are perfect for my summer cookouts and good enough for a home.

I served on the Board of Directors for a local charity in Escondido California with a couple who had an amazing home that I had the honor of visiting several times. The one gentleman was a professional chef and his partner was an architect and avid gardener. They have a home that was featured in San Diego Home and Garden with a long galley kitchen with sliding opening to service stations in the dining room/living room combo- huge space with a grand piano, a bar and a small living room area with chairs vs a sofa and a tv that had a barn door type of cover with a large piece of artwork that could be slid in front of the TV and a table that could easily seat 16 people.

They had the folding patio doors that led out to a grand stone patio area the same width of the living room and was probably 15 to 20 feet deep. It led out to an acre of teared gardens with a little art studio and various private patios with fireplaces and fountains.

They rented their space for private functions, weddings, engagement parties, charity events, romantic dinners for 2 . . .

It was amazing, but they had year round functionality and a reason for needing such a grand space.

I wouldn't mind having a space like that (except I wouldn't want to keep up the gardens) but is it overkill for a 2000 sq ft MCM ranch in Pennsylvania where I only use the patio 4 months of the year?

Sliders often display more glass when closed (i.e. frames overlap instead of abutting each other.) You can design them to slide completely into a wall or along an outdoor wall if available and unobstructed. If not an option, I'd agree with comments above that bi-fold doors will stack out of the way a bit better if keeping them open most of the time is the plan.