I debated for quite a few years before making the switch to a tankless water heater.
A tankless unit is a bigger initial investment. It requires a licensed plumber to handle the installation. Tankless water heaters can struggle to keep up with demands when multiple water sources are used at the same time. I hoped that the advantages of a tankless alternative would outweigh the drawbacks. One of the biggest perks of tankless water heating is the smaller sized equipment. The tankless water heater is about the size of a small briefcase and mounts on the wall. It frees up valuable space in the basement. Rather than storing water in a large tank and repeatedly reheating it, water is heated as needed. This avoids the water absorbing harmful minerals and contaminants from the tank. It eliminates standby energy losses and waiting for water to heat up. We used to need to let the faucet run for a considerable amount of time in order for the water to heat up. The tankless water heater is activated immediately when a faucet is opened up. Water passes through a heat exchanger and is instantly hot. There is no concern with running out of hot water. There is no threat of a tank rupturing and flooding the basement. A tankless water heater is also easier to repair. Parts can be replaced, resulting in about twice the service life of a tank-style water heater. I like that we can customize temperature settings to our liking. The tankless water heater was a good decision and a smart investment for my household.