I don't have any data to support it either way. The con's are a spinning prop that you need to be aware when launching the boat and you'll need to develop the toss technique to prevent it from stalling when it hits the water. The pro's are less moving parts to break, less weight to spin up should mean quicker to rev and you can ditch the water pump.

I miss starting it floating in the water but other then that it's no big deal. My clutch failed early on due to poor manufacturing standards. One of the stand offs that holds the clutch bell frame was shorter then the others causing it to place the clutch bell at an angle other then perpindicular to the output shaft. This lead to a premature failure of the brazed joint between the bell and the square cable receiver.

Fewer parts to break is always a plus.