My question wasn't on which hook was better at holding fish, but on which hook had the highest strike/landing ratio. It's a subtle slant on the barbed/barbless argument.

Some strikes using barbed hooks are missed because the barb doesn't allow the hook to sink in, also most barbless hooks tend to have a sharper point besides no barb.

I've fished barbless for years because:

hook is easier to remove from me, clothing, etc.
flies don't get torn up as much when being removed from fish. They last longer
hook doesn't injure fish as much

That's just three that come to mind.