I've never really been a big fan of buckets. I bought one once, and brewed in it a few times, but don't like the concept. You can't watch the fermentation happen, the lid cracks and ages, the ring fails, the bucket turns colors over time, mini scratches appear from cleanings that make me nervous. The thought of just tossing the bucket out after a few brews doesn't sit well with me either, I don't like the idea of dozens of buckets sitting in a landfill.
I've never liked any other type of plastic fermenter for the same reason (PET carboys, plastic conicals, ect.). Cheap and safe, yes. Durable, no.
I currently use mostly glass carboys. Durable, lifetime purchases (if you treat them well) that can be recycled (if they break), allow you to watch all the fermentations happen, and the temp of the beer translates well to the glass wall for easy temp measurements. Mind you they aren't perfect, and can be dangerous. No pressure transfers too. If I could get over the downsides of some of the other options, I would.
I'd like to move onto ssbrew buckets, but the cost isn't too inviting. I could get over it though. The more I talk myself into an ssbrew bucket, the more I figure a Spike Flex fermenter can do everything a ssbrew bucket can do and more . . . but if I'm going to spend the cash on a Flex fermenter, I mine as well spring for a Spike unitank (not much more) . . . but a unitank won't fit in my chest freezer, which means I'd have to get a glycol chiller . . . and in the end I'm replacing a $30 glass bottle with $2,000 worth of equipment . . . and I can't justify it.
I wish I could though. And maybe one day I will. But for now the glass carboy will have to do.