Sage, you should try one out, especially on a rifle that sees a lot more range time than it does hunting time. I set up my 7mm as a pure hunter and it will never have a brake, but it is a snappy little bioch off the bench.
Hunting with a brake isnt a big deal, just keep in the back of your head that you should stuff in earplugs before shooting it, i keep regular stiff plastic plugs tied on my neck, takes around two seconds to put them in.also you need to keep crap out of it, they like to collect pine needles and such while walking around. I put a "party balloon" over mine and tape it off on the barrel, i've had no issues doing this..even if i'm using a rifle without a brake I will tape off the muzzle, this does not affect POI in any way.It blows off long before the bullet even gets there.
If a guy still hunts 90% of the time i could see why he would despise brakes, i like to look over what i'm shooting most of the time, so its no big deal to me.