I've always heard there are two types of concrete, cracked and soon to be cracked. I think that's a little overstated, but doesn't feel too far off. Especially up here, with the constant freeze and thaw cycles, which can be really hard on concrete. Sure, you can do work to prevent it, but that brings up the cost.
I'd lean towards the pavers. You still have to dig out the gravel bed, but they're unlikely to crack. If they somehow do end up damaged you can replace a few pavers, while concrete is hard to repair and keep it looking good. On a proper gravel and sand bed, you shouldn't see any heaving, even here. They do cost more, but only ~10-15% more than concrete and they're likely to stay in good condition longer. You may have to pull a weed that manages to take root here and there. Though that's also true of concrete once it starts cracking. And if you're installing yourself, you get a lot more wiggle room in the process with pavers.
Though there are also a couple things the flatness of concrete brings. You also won't likely clear pavers perfectly of snow if that matters to you, it's just harder to do than on a perfectly flat surface. Rolling a grill over the pavers can be a pain, depending on the size of the paver, but how often will you do that? Likewise, patio furniture may find the seems and not sit as level as on concrete, which could be an annoyance.
