@ped, my string of choice is the D'Addario half rounds. I'm not a regular changer and the set that went on my gigging bass went on when I bought it just over two years ago. Admittedly it hasn't been played much with Covid but it was used for rehearsal every week and gigged every other week roughly, for the first 15 months until the first lockdown. I can't say I've noticed any real difference in tone from new to now, apart from a very slight settling in period where they lost a little bit of zing. The previous gigging bass had the same set rehearsed/gigged for three years with similar results.
They never get to the full flat tone and I'd say they are like a reasonably (but not totally) dead round out of the packet but don't really get much deader, at not for a long time.
Ive actually broken a string with these (heavy handed enthusiasm) and didn't notice a difference with the new set. Our soundman didn't notice or feel the need to change my EQ.
They do feel a little rough when new but just play through it and it will go in about 10 to 15 hours of playing.
I've never liked that new round topiness, but with the half rounds I lose that harsh top end but still retain plenty of definition. With a pick they're perfect for a Bruce Foxton tone so definitely not a dull thud, unless a dull thud is needed.