I shot trad before compounds...tried them and decided that they were too high maintenance and that my recurves were actually more efficient hunting tools. To use a compound, unless you shoot it bare bow, everything has to be perfect. My recurve can get the job done in many more unexpected situations than I could ever have gotten done with my old compound. It is simpler, more efficient and my sense of achievement is much more satisfying with a recurve than anything I shot with my compound.
I should add, that IMO, trad equipment is harder to shoot accurately but once you get that part figured out they are simply better hunting tools.