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Max...As you can see, I own a ketch but all my previous boats were sloops.
I think that up to a certain size, a sloop is both easier to deal with and sails more efficiently to windward.
Once you get into larger boats...splitting up the sails makes a difference in how strong you need to be...and gives you more choices in balancing the boat in heavy weather. In practice...the mizzen is virtually self tending, but there is a little adjusting and certainly hoisting and dousing to deal with.
For us...the big advantage to having a ketch rig was that it reduced the height of the main mast so we can get under the ICW bridges. The sloop version of my boat cannot.
Bottom line: Up to about 40 feet get a sloop unless you just want to be jaunty looking! 40-45'...your choice based on windward ability vs. handling tradeoffs...45'+...consider a ketch unless you have plenty of crew and like to go a couple of tenths of a knot faster to windward.
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