Well, they both have advantages and disadvantages. The major advantage of is that it is a sustained bandwidth (your neighbors don't eat into your bandwidth). Downside is that you have to live pretty close to the central office and deal with the ILEC to get you a line.

Cable has the advantage of being a much longer distance, higher bandwidth (shared) and often a little cheaper.

xDSL is not even an option for me. The closest central office is too far. Cable is already at my house and it was a pretty easy matter to get hooked up for @Home. $40/month includes the modem rental (I can buy a DOCSIS modem and it would be a little cheaper).

All in all, hi-speed (whatever the method) is good, dial-up is bad.