How long does sperm live outside body? lets say on human skin or inanimate objects (skin or wet towel, hard surface, or clothes)? not sure of the consensus on this because there seems to be lots of different opinions on how long based on environment?

Asking how long sperm survive is the wrong question. It doesn't matter. Whether alive or dead, nobody gets pregnant, or catches STDs, by contacting sperm in the environment or inanimate objects, no matter how much semen contamination there might be. (Based only on natural "yuck" feelings, of course use common sense hygiene after sex or masturbation. But pregnancy risk is not an issue.)

There is no confusion. Sperms die within 10 mts on most surfaces. Exceptions being the vagina and normal saline- where they can and do survive longer