Carbide versus HSS and the shelix head.

I recently invested in a carbide tipped 1 and 1/4" resaw blade by Lennox. Up to that point I used their half inch HSS band for general ripping and curve cutting. It's an excellent blade. Anyway, the carbide tipped blade is great for accurate resawing and cutting tenons. They do a carbide tipped 1/2" blade too but it's very pricey on a 30" bandsaw. 
Maybe next time I put in an order. The first time I ordered one they didn't weld it straight and it oscillated back and forth. Not good.
So I sent it back. 
Carbide is great. For some things. But not everything in my experience. I got a quote for a custom insert head for my thicknesser but when I found out how many inserts it took and the time it would take to turn them ? Sod it. I can change my HSS knives in fifteen minutes easy and they do give a better finish than carbide. The latest HSS knives are tougher and harder too. Very impressed. They claim this stuff can hold its edge two to three times longer than 18%.
Seems about right.
You do notice the difference when your grinding it over the usual 18% stuff. It sparks out faster and smoother. It's brighter too.
That said, on a smaller thickness planer the  number of inserts is far less to deal with.
I can understand the logic better there.
I have not used insert cutterheads except on my shaper. 
The high grade Lietz carbide is definitely a cut above regular insert carbide. It's shinier. Brighter looking. Sharper too. But insanely expensive. That was a three thousand dollar head but it payed for itself on its first production run. Phenomenal accuracy and durability cutting copes in end grain. Now that's the acid test of quality tooling. Lietz does awesome kit. 
So imho ? Make room for both and whatever works best for your application. I don't see any point in being dogmatic about this sort of thing. 
The old standard bevel angle for HSS was 35 for soft woods and 40 for hard. I'm currently milling hard and soft so I tried 37 degree's. Works fine. Personally I think 40 is to steep for tear out free finish planing. It increases the friction and cutting pressure to much. Most sharpening services default to 40 degree's unless you specify.