I totally get where you’re coming from. I tried foam strips when we first moved in, thinking I was being clever, but they really didn’t hold up—especially after a couple of hot summers and then freezing winters. The backer rod and silicone combo is way more work up front, but I haven’t had to redo it in years. Plus, I’m the same way about wanting things to look tidy around the windows. Sometimes the “quicker” fix just ends up being more hassle later...
I hear you on the foam strips—those things looked like a quick fix, but I swear they started peeling off the minute we had our first real cold snap. I ended up chasing drafts all winter and cursing every time I walked by the living room window. Eventually, I did the backer rod and silicone too, and it was a pain to get it all tucked in neatly, but honestly, it’s held up for three years now.
One thing I did differently was paint over the silicone once it dried. Not sure if that’s “by the book,” but it made everything blend in better with the trim, so it doesn’t bug me every time I look at it. Sometimes the extra effort is worth it, even if you’re just patching things up until you can afford new windows down the line.
Funny how those “easy” solutions always end up being more work in the long run...