I'm personally not a fan of verticals, but do prefer the look of hunter douglas silhouettes which operate essentially the same way, but IMO look better and more finished.

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Verticals have been out of fashion, but they can be the perfect solution. For east or west facing windows, they control light better than horizontal blinds. If privacy is more of as issue from one direction than another, verticals let you control it better. In any case, they can allow view without direct light, and let you see out without others seeing in. And I agree that they can have a clean, modern look. Not a professional, but experience with verticals. They aren't right for our current house, but were the ideal treatment for certain rooms in our last house. My parents had them throughout their Arizona winter home and they worked great against the strong sun.

I had newish verticals and got rid of them. Hate how they look more than I value their utility.

I have a house full of blinds and hate them because they are dust catchers. My personal preference is curtains because they are easier to clean.

My DD has Plantation shutters on her sliders. The door which is statuonary has one set of shutters slide in front of it for opening/closing the movable door. It's a very nice look and they'll last for years. I live in TX where we get high temps in the summer, and have them on the windows which get the most sun. No fading, warping, or other problems in the 6 years i've had them. Although maybe a but bit more pricey than other window treatments, they're well worth the money imo.

I never have liked verticals, fashionable or not, so you know my opinion on those. We had Hunter Douglas Silhouttes in our last home, loved them, and think they would be perfect for your purpose. They are light and airy. When they are closed they will give you the privacy you want yet still feel and look airy and cool.,

We have plantation shutters on all our windows in our new FL home, but not on the 3 pane slider from the great room onto the lanai and pool area, so we are not worried about privacy there; just have light end panels.

Ditto on the Silhouttes. I had then installed on 3 sliders last year. In the bedroom, PB drapes.

I'd do grommet topped curtains, rather than verticals. Grommet topped curtains will slide easily, and have a softer look. Verticals often look institutional to me.

I would do anything other than verticals. When we lived in a Florida house with banks of three sliders (three sets of these, kitchen, family room and living room) we also had plantation shutters that stacked at the end of the bank. Best possible solution for us especially since the rest of the house also had plantation shutters.

I know a lot of folks are fans of plantation shutters, but I am not as they block so much of the light and view all the time. We recently stayed at an inn that had them and they wouldn't stay open. Fortunately the room was full of paperbacks and I found one that was just the right size to fit between the slats and hold them open. A real PITA.

And you know, Annie, that I have to disagree with you on plantation shutters blocking much of the light and view. ;-) I don't think they do. We have them throughout the house with 4" louvers, and the rooms feel quite open and bright when the louvers are in the open position. (Ours also open completely, but we rarely do that since just controlling the louvers allows more than enough outside light to come in.) I love our plantation shutters. Just love them. :-)

I've hated verticals since the first time I saw them back when they were the hot new thing. But I have them on all my sliders. There just really isn't a better solution, unfortunately.