How important is it to choose the right option?

Is it possible to change compute options and, if so, what are the limitations to changing compute options later down in the development life cycle?

None of the compute options available on Google Cloud are inherently bad. They all achieve the same results but have a few key but subtle differences that make them ideal for different use cases. For instance, one of the key differentiating factors between the compute options is the level of control each gives the developer. Use the following diagram as a rule of thumb to understand the varying levels of control Google Cloud compute options provide:

Figure 4.1 – Comparing Google Cloud compute options < Fully managed/More control >

One thing to remember is that the compute options on the left don't necessarily have fewer features, but a lot of the complex features are managed by the cloud. In other words, if you choose Firebase or Cloud Functions...