Agree with all the above, it really depends on your needs and how you intend to use it. I’m in West Texas, we use SXS’s on private ranches and leases 100% of the time. I mix in a couple of western hunts every year, and it varies on what I’m after/state I’m hunting in/access whether I drag it along or not.
That said, probably 90% my out of state hunts I’m taking it with me. They make traveling dirt roads and the like so much smoother and faster, there really is no downside to taking one with you except for dragging a trailer and more tires. It comes in handy more often than not, and I’ve been without it once in Wyoming when I reaaaaaally, reaaaaaally needed it due to fouled up, muddy roads.
I’ve had quads, and they have their place. I am actually in the market for a nice used quad so that I’m able to take both with me out of state. The only time I’d ever use a quad over a SXS is if trails happen to be 50” restricted, which does happen occasionally.
If I can only have one, it’s going to be SXS every single time despite the added cost. They are incredibly comfortable, fast, and more capable than I care to admit. The added benefit of being able to take 3 other hunters with me is also a huge benefit. You can go as basic or bouje as you’d like. I have no doors and just front/back glass with no heating or AC. My buddies have fully cabbed versions - while the heat is nice, the AC leaves something to be desired and we more often than not roll with the windows down.
Aother thing that comes in handy is pulling the SXS on a trailer to wherever I’m going, then unloading it and hooking the trailer back up to the SXS. We do this regularly at the leases when filling corn and the like - and we’ve hauled a wall tent camp pretty deep on western hunts this way as well.