I consider it a mediocre inflator because I found it harder to locate and hit the right buttons when I wanted to.
The only button I ever use on my Atomic SS1 is the small inflate button. After diving with it for a couple years, it's second nature to me now. If I'm vertical it's always easier to vent by pulling straight down on the inflator, utilizing the dump valve at the shoulder. If I'm swimming horizontally, I always use one of the pull dump valves on the bottom of the bladder.
Under the conditions that most of us regularly dive, to me either style seems sufficiently adequate. We all know the positives and negatives to both octos and octo/inflators. If you're comfortable using one or the other, stick with it.
But that's just my opinion, and you all know the saying about opinions...