As someone who makes his living in this industry, I can say this. We struggle everyday to build the better bait/ mousetrap/ the new "holy crap I can't believe we haven't thought of this before!!!" As far as soft plastics goes, our best producing baits are close cousins, in color, to their real life counterparts.
As far as which type of fisherman is better, depends on your perspective. What's the objective? Catch fish? Not sure that a line can be drawn if the end result is the same.
I fondle more plastic baits before 9am than you will in your life...
