Its like apple or android. If you like shiny gadgets that were on the edge of technology - long time ago - and are now behind by a large margin, but they are still shiny and they think they still have that technological edge (but only they think that way), then take the Empire
If you are more into a do it yourself kind of person where form follows function and you want to blame knowone else but yourself for any failure - welcome to the federation...
Regards,
Junka