In terms of protection modules/detection (yeah I know some of you are still concerned on Detections more than anything
):
1- ESET (still a firm believer on their full lockdown HIPS mode (Policy Based mode))
2- Bit Defender
3- Panda
User Friendly:
Panda and Bit Defender by Far.
Yes I know everyone is gonna jump at me saying ESET is User Friendly, but let's dig into the settings shall we? Rules for HIPS and Firewall: It is like a maze unless you know what you are doing (yes they have the Automatic and Smart modes but doesn't make configuring rules any easier). Learning mode is available but 9 out of 10 people that use Learning Mode after it expires they will just switch to Automatic.
Resource impact/Real World impact:
Depends on your system but to generalize a bit with some Gaming language (FPS as an example):
ESET: Shooting someone with an M4A1 pressing the Shoot key at a normal pace and aiming properly - hitting target most of the times despite recoil
Bit Defender: Saying "Fire in the hole" and tossing a grenade while a Flash Grenade is Active, meaning you cant see anything and you pray it hits something.
Panda: UZI spraying bullets and your aim is all over the place in hopes one shot will hit.
In other words: ESET is way more stable and less impact than the others. Bit Defender is a Hit or Miss, while Panda is a Hit or Miss depending on the yearly released version.