i have both actually. i used to prefer fake. until i saw a news segment of the negatives of a fake. non-biodegradable, the amount of greenhouse gases required to get shipped and energy to get to your house outweighs the benefits greatly. but it's nice to not have any needles, no sap, nice to have perfect tree shape, no watering, no fee of buying one and looking every year.
then again a real tree looks better, feels better, smells better. if you get one from a tree farm that plant as they cut, and recycle it's actually better. i think i'm still a fake tree preferring guy, but certainly like the real too. if it comes from a well managed tree farm, it's alright by me.