It's kind of funny, but this "topic" is one of those age old ones that really hasn't changed for many, many years.
When I was planning and buying for my "operating diorama", the same questions were asked, and this was over 10 years ago. So really, only the names have changed, with some now offering better options.
Back then, I ended up using Peco 55 beacause it was at the time, one of the "better" choices. ME had just released, or was going to, their new 55 switches. Too late for me on this layout, but I eventually bought some and used them, and I still have quite a few unused.
So when we see a lot of layouts still with Peco, well, they're probably older ones that are still running well. The Peco spacing isn't a big issue for me, but modeling the DRGW, the ballast is very dark so it helps "hide" the wider spacing of the ties.
It would be nice for once, to have a manufacturer offer a "full line" of prototyical track and switches............that are AVAILABLE and in stock, RTR, for the modeler who wants to do his own roadbed/subroadbed, but doesn't want to hand lay track.
Maybe some day. FWIW, the Atlas 55 that I've seen at the LHS looks pretty nice, but there's something about that ME that keeps catching the eye.
I guess we'll have to keep asking the same questions for a while longer, what's the hurry :
