I prefer coastal sailing. The main reason is, I get the sailing I'm looking for, more often. Sometimes the wind and conditions make for a perfect passage sail, but I haven't had all that many. Too often passages have turned into powering.
Coastal sailing I can often find ideal sailing conditions and sail them to where I want to go, or change destination, and go where the wind will take me, nicely.
In order to do that, it helps to be sailing a coastal area that is spread out, a broad water area of islands, peninsulas, wide and narrow bays and a diverse area of anchorages and ports to choose from.
In areas like this, I find I can slow down, sail more, and power less.