Yes. It is better or the same.

Or worse.

I prefer fixed 99% of the time. The only time I wish I had gears is when I am plowing through long or steep stretches of powder, chunder, frozen babyfood, etc. I really want to drop down a few gear inches but no dice. Thing is, in that situation who knows if shifting is even gonna work what with things getting frozen and packed with snow. My bike lives outside during the day, in the garage at night, and basically stays frozen all winter so I choose fixed.

And stopping. I run a front disc and there are times when I grab it and it is frozen. I much prefer to slow down with my legs.

I can imagine many situations where gears would be needed and even necessary. Like riding around on some rolling groomers on a fat bike, or climbing steep long hills in a blizzard.