i personally prefer passive pickups.

active pickups are good for a practice guitar in your room, but they ruin the dynamics that passives will give you.

they basically level everything out for you automatically.

it's like having triggers on your guitar.

Depends on what kind of tone i would like to achieve. Actives for 8-string guitars, passives for 6-string guitars. Musical style often defines the general sound i'm looking for so..... null'd.