Good question.
If I have a choice of what to make for someone, I'll make a pie, it's easier for me to make and everyone always likes the fact that I make an all butter crust.
I don't often make cakes because I'm horrible at piping out icing.
For eating, it depends on where I'm eating, and the choices that I have. If I know the person uses shortening for the crust, I'm going with cake. If there's a cake that I have a weakness for(mocha, black forest) available with a good quality frosting, then I'm going to be digging into the cake.