Go back enough years and the successful SA 330 started life as a military helicopter but with a number later built as plain ol' O&G SA330J's!
Wiki tells me the J's were "Upgraded civil transport version with composite rotor blades and with higher maximum takeoff weight", so in some respects more capable than their then military counterparts (aside from SA 330L).
I can see the point re ground clearance. SA 330 seems to have good clearance, but Black Hawk doesn't in comparison, yet never heard this raised as an issue for them.