i havent used a fixed blade in years,tried a couple different mechanicals even a cheap allen head it worked just like my vortex did. but i have the most confidence in my vortex heads even after trying a rage three blade.
blood trails are great especially if the exit wound is lower .
the only disadvantage in mechanicals i see would be if the arrow is inside the body. the fixed heads would tear up more than the mechanicals because my heads mostly need forward motion to stay open and cut because they do not lock back.
so it might not do as much damage and the arrow might come out easier because the blades do close back up, giving that never did open look or head failure as some claim.
all in all i love my mechanicals they do great and not one issue after many years and deer. hey we all like different things and have different results with the same products.
the quickest iseen a deer go down not spined either and die,i was using a cut on contact head it jumped took three or so quick steps staggered and fell and was dead.