It's personal preference. If you have a good release and a good serving material your string will take a long time to wear out.
If you use a loop, tied correctly with QUALITY loop material, it will last you. I've just went over to a loop this season, and I like it. If someone made me go back to off the string, I wouldn't hesitate there either. the loop is nice for all the reasons mentioned, but if a person is much more comfortable shooting off the string, no one should knock them.