Those SRAM Powerlinks are sometimes tricky to open, but they definitely can be opened. However, I would say there are two typical scenarios:

1. You are a person that likes to clean their chain frequently, in which case the Powerlink is fairly easy to open. Besides, you'll remember the trick from one time to the other.

2. You are a person that never removes their chain until it needs to be replaced. In that case, you may use your chain tool to break a "normal" link and discard the chain.

I tend to be a "type-2" person. So why do I use a Powerlink? Because I generally use SRAM chains and they come with a Powerlink. And I prefer those because I don't have a good track record with the special Shimano pins. I broke three chains in my life, and all three were Shimanos; at least two of them broke at the special pin.