I've done both types for many years now, and I've grown more than just marijuana in both, so I feel I can offer an OPINION: Hydro > Soil in every respect.
Healthier, cleaner, safer, higher potency, higher yield, thicker bud density, BETTER TASTE, and overall a better final product. And I can say that for Marijuana and for fruits and vegetables that I've grown in earth boxes in soil, and hydro setups. Hydro > Soil. But only if done correctly, and by someone who has the right information on how to do things.
My fruits and vegetables taste better, have better yields, and less deficiencies and deformities in the final product. Regarding Marijuana.....yes soil can create an excellent final product, just less of it. I've grown the same strain in soil and hydro, and I can tell you that my patients all regarded the hydro buds to be superior to the soil ones. Just MY OPINION.
If you really know the ins and outs of hydroponics growing I do believe you can produce an overall superior product to what a master soil grower can produce. Someone earlier in this thread made a good comparison to what would happen if you gave a noob dr. dre's studio and dr. dre a laptop...who would produce better music? In the end a lot of your final product comes down to personal knowledge, not just growing style.
Also regarding chastising someone for posting in any section of this site is wrong. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and should only be chastised if they are being inflammatory. (which I didn't see the original soil growers post as being, yes it was opinionated towards soil being > hydro, but my post here is just the opposite). Each person can express their opinion, even if I don't find myself going into the soil growing section and touting how awesome hydro is to the soil people, I still feel he has a right to come over here and post about how he thinks its great. To each his own, and let each person decide on what's > to them. Try all the growing methods, figure out what works best for you. No answer is the right one.