I was one of those "pain free" ladies, I was given morphine in a drip in theatre, was MADE to take Panadol 4hrs later to help prevent pain after the spinal wore off, that was it, I had NO pain, the after birth pains weren't even as bad as period pain for me, I got no infection or anything BUT in saying that, I had had 12 surgeries in my life BEFORE that so I am used to it.
My mum on the other hand is the opposite end, she had VB with me, was 2 cms dilated when I decided to come, tore and needed stitches (poor thing was only 19!) had to have an emergency csection with my at 36 weeks due to twin to twin transfusion, was in hospital for 4 weeks, got and infection and pneumonia (which is common with emergency c's due to the tube in the throat) so had a horrible time after both and was in just as much pain after each.
I know I have to have another c-section with any further pregnancies due to didephlys uterus and extremely weak pelvic floor, plus spinal issues, last time I was 37+6 next time I will have to be between 36-38 weeks because risk of going in to labour is life threatening to me (told to me by a gastroenterologist not ob/gyn). And I wish I could go natural.
At the end of the day a good ob will weigh up the risks of both and tell you which one is going to be better for you (IMO). You personal health will play a big part in the end decision, so it's hard to say which would be "better".