I've been liking the michoacan for longer ascents or when i have alot of branches to pass. That being said, the blakes still gets used in certain circumstances. For instance today I only had to run up a sycamore about 20ft and had no branches to pass, the blakes with the tail of the rope was quick and easy. I would have still been setting up my slack tending biner by the time I was making my first cut.
I think that everyone should be able to get by with just a rope and saddle JIC.
Tried a few different hitches, really like the michoacan, very easy to tie and tends great with zero set back.
I love to learn new knots but find myself using only a few for most of my climbing and rigging. KISS