Tub spout rough in for Tub/shower renovation

I have a new cast iron tub and will be installing tile on the 3 walls surrounding the tub. I have a delta MultiChoice valve (the pex version). So I will crimp pex to the incoming lines, then I will screw a pipe thread to pex adapter on to run pex up to the shower where I will have a drop ear elbow that I will crimp pex too. Then I will screw a 1/2 pipe nipple in for now. For the tub spout I am coming out with a pipe thread to copper sweat adapter then running copper down. At that point should I just put a sweat elbow and have a copper tube coming out (for a slip on tub spout) or should I instead have a drop ear elbow and come out with a a pipe nipple (like for the shower)? At this time I do not know what delta hardware I will be using so I don't know if I am better off going with copper pipe (slip on) or pipe nipple (thread on spout)? Is one more common, what happens if I do one but the spout is only available as the other? Thanks.

Either way is acceptable. I like the drop ear - it's easy to secure to a block.

Your Delta spout "should" have a "unifit" adapter which can attach to either threads or solder to a copper stub, so you can do it either way. But, DO secure the elbow somehow, even if it is not a drop ear elbow, which is what most plumbers WOULD use.

Thanks for the help!. So how far should I have the 1/2 nipple sticking out from the finished wall? Fortunately this is something I can change after I finish the wall, but I would like to do a leak test on the drop ear/nipple interface before I put up the tile. It always makes me nervous to screw in a new shower pipe and not be able to see in to check for leaks. If I can have the right length nipple in that would be one less that I would have to worry about. Thanks!

Measure from the drop ear to the finish wall.
Measure from the thread to the base in your spout.

Add the two - and there is your nipple length.

Remember: get 2 more nipples, one slightly longer and one slightly shorter, if your calculations turned out to be wrong.

The Delta spout with the adapter HJ shows is pretty flexible. The O-ring makes the seal, so as long as you can screw it on, it'll work. The spec sheet gives a fairly big range. Most other spouts that screw on are much less flexible.

With that adapter the nipple can project 1 1/2" from the wall, but it means a lot of "twisting" to screw the spout on that far. I like it as close to the wall as possible form that reason.