Portable is one thing, recycle time is another. You can do amazing things with Nikon speedlights, I have seen a video that just blew me away.

My AB's, recycle almost immediately. If I accidently leave it on motor drive, they will fire twice.

But, really, I don't know enough about speedlights to say if they are better or easier than strobes. An Alien bee costs less than a speedlight, so, you just have to decide what it is you want to do.