That's definitely a question of preference. Some families love the annual tradition of trekking out to the Christmas tree farm (or parking lot store!) and selecting the perfect tree for that year. Other people prefer to have a tree that they can use for many years without sacrificing a living one. Artificial trees don't tend to shed "needles" as readily as real ones, and there's no need to keep it watered to prevent drying out and becoming a fire hazard!