I'm just old enough to have experienced the great wheelguns-versus-autos debates, continue to witness the this-versus-that debates, and may live long enough to take part in ray-gun/laser-gun-versus-lead arguments.
Of course, considering that I started with 357s and 44s, purchased through my friend's sister or my dad, most other so-called hand-cannons seem weak, quiet, easy to shoot, and easy to wield!
But (illegally) carrying an 8 3/8" Model 29 (because that's what Harry carried) or a 645 (because that's what Sonny carried) in Galco shoulder rigs soon gave way to more practical choices. So went the days of real steel, just prior to the Tupperware era.
Back when the number of weapon-models were few, and each caliber had maybe a half-dozen factory loads -- comparisons were more easily made. Weapon-specific, load-specific arguments could take place with arguable results. Now, comparisons are made with generalities, made from a random sampling of available loads. Facts and opinions seem to change a lot -- just like in politics.