The same question applies on books vs movies.
Some would say books are far more superior then movies, neglecting the fact that movies come with sound, are nicer to those who have reading problems and want to know the story within 2 hours.
Other might say a movie is faster, more accessible and less hard to grasp, while in fact books do not rush you, gives you the ability to read thoughts, and give you more freedom to fill in the gaps.
Books or movies, or what DAW, it all comes down to your own likings.
Having said that, Fruity Loops was a mediocre DAW partly because of hard to see GUI (too small) and the lack of midi compatibility. However, they were rewarded for their unique philosophy in business in general. Lifetime free upgrades. And not only that, but Image Line, the producer house of the FL Studio series, is very active in marketing and getting feedback from the everyday average user of FL Studio. So, if you would have struggled upon a unhandy feature, a smart solution or other workable ideas, they might just trow it in in a future update, which, because you bought it just once in a long distance past, if free from you to download.
And the demo gets you almost to the mastering stage with help of a useful thing called Audacity.
You only need to buy FL Studio when you actual make money of the soundscapes you used FL Studio for. Or think (trust me, it is!!) the money is worth spending (think lifetime upgrades (which comes down to a few cents each month)) it on.
They sounds are great, if you now how to use the gear.
Check this link for ALL you ever need to know, and don't be fooled by the music, it was cool and hot when the video was made, and the principles will never change, because sound is sound, reproduced by magnets, and that will not changed or was ever changed since the first sound that was reproduced by a speaker.
( https://www.google.com/search?q=the+art+of+mixing&client=ms-android-dt-nl-revc&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL8ZqL1avqAhXE6qQKHf8iAdsQ_AUoA3oECBMQAw&biw=360&bih=512&dpr=3#ip=1 )
You can render and save midi so without a payed version you can do everything.
There are more than enough 'hidden' features that make all other DAW's bite dust. Fruity Loops clearly won the battle, by far.
If you are thinking about making music, you should know it takes time to shape your work into something sweet. So, if you just put just as much effort in getting to understand why your instrument (DAW, because the mixer is a music instrument on it's own, waiting to be played with and sound sweeter then honey) responds the way it does, you will enjoy those few hours of actual serious study THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.