I don't think they are a better option, if you look at the two, they are moving in different plains, you just have to look at the movement of the shoulder blades, most think the pull-ups are awesome because it creates width, that is utter rubbish, the lat like any muscle can only become thicker.
finding the right exercise is about working out how to place a muscle in its fully contracted to fully stretched position, try this;
just stand there with both pull-up (hands pronated, at about 800mm-900mm apart)
and contract the muscles; you shoulder blades buch up, slifgt contraction of the lats, and you ant deltoids will feel tight.
chinup; hand suppinated hands just shoulder width (750mm) upper arms inline or just past the torso and contract, lats only are contracted along with biceps, minimal contraction around the shoulder blades and also note where the upper arm is is the pull up.
wide grip pull up is the powerlifters worst enemy.
But they seem to like doing them, it's all about how much I can move over a short distance swinging like a funny door.