I have run both types of ignition on my dad's old distributor tuning machine. Points will fire the plugs just as well as a electronic unit will up to a fairly high rpm, 6000 +.
One advantage of a HEI type distributor is a hotter spark at crank and smoother, lower rpm, assuming you have proper voltage and good wiring. A Pertronix unit should do the same. My engine starts easier since I switched to a GM HEI. It runs just the same down the road though.
The other advantage is maintenance as Cletis pointed out. Once installed it should be set for life. This doesn't mean you should not carry spare parts, from what I read Pertronix is kinda hit and miss. Most failures seem to be from over or under voltage.
