Muscle hypertrophy needs effort above all else. Sure, variety as well as gradual progressive overload is paramount for muscle growth, but at the end of the day, it's applied effort that is going to get the job done.
Going to failure is but one method out of many, and for as long as one does not restrict themselves to one method at the expense of neglecting all the rest, muscular growth will take place.
"Better than" is a dangerous term in bodybuilding. Different bodybuilders pushing their winning method above all others because it's "better than" all the rest is one sure way to failure ... sooner or later.
Proponents of High intensity rubbish proponents of high volume and on it goes. What both camps need to realise is that irrespective of which method is applied, if muscular effort is not at the forefront of one's workout, then one might as well go home.
When it comes to bodybuilding, the weight on the bar is but one part of the equation to muscle hypertrophy. Overload does not necessarily mean more weight, as some understand it to be.
Going to failure on a particular set on a particular exercise focusing on a particular bodypart (say legs), is different from going to failure on another exercise, focusing on a smaller muscle for example.
Everything works but nothing works all of the time.
Fadi.