Jim & Jim,
Frankly, I've never had a bad 50 since I began shooting in 1969. Having said that, I adopted the old Nikon 46-83 Zoom as my prime lens in the 70s and opted for convenience over image quality. I guess that use of a standard zoom has stuck with me over the years. But when I want the best image possible, I go with primes and my 50 is a really nice alternative.

The fact that it slows you down is not all bad. You do have to think about composition and angle more. You do have to move around more. But I feel more connected to the session when I use my primes. It's hard to explain but sometimes photography should be work! I think it makes you value the results more.

Jim