Jeff I shoot feathers out of my compound and my recurve, and yes they are not as durable as vanes. But as far as stabilization goes they are the best option in short range situations IMHO. You can read more about the effects feathers have on arrows on
www.gatewayfeathers.com/and
www.trueflightfeathers.com/. Both websites have good info on them.
As far as the distance vanes and feathers even out it is out past 30yds where vanes catch up with feathers, due to the point feathers create more drag and slow the arrow down some. But almost immediately out of a bow feathers start the arrow spinning while with vanes they start spinning much farther down range.