Torx just works. Never an issue (except smallest bit size TX10 can wear out quickly). I guess disadvantage is you need to have them in 4-5 sizes depending on screw size, like Hex, but that is easily worth it.
The smallest Torx size is a T1 (or TX1, whatever)! This size is best described as "pray that you never have to use it". I think I did... once... or maybe that was just staring at the driver wondering what it's for. Still, we have 16 different Torx sizes around here. Sixteen!
Also, there's a thing called Torx Plus out there. You can buy Torx Plus screws and things will work out for you, but don't buy Torx Plus bits unless you know what you're doing. That said, if you do use Torx Plus bits with Torx Plus screws, it works really well.
TORX Plus has made its rounds on the automotive circuit. It's designed to be somewhat backwards compatible but it is a lot easier to damage the fastener with a normal TORX driver.
Side note: mistakenly using a smaller torx driver demolishes both the screw head and the driver... and it usually fits well.
I wonder if the pin/hole tolerances of the "tamper proof" variants are tight enough to keep the slightly smaller out? Then it's not so much about keeping out people who don't own the right tools (gatekeeping) but about keeping out hands that happen to not hold the right tool at the moment, which is very well possible even if one should know better, and the right tool is available as well. You should never blame the user for a mistake that could have been prevented by better UI.
Ahh yes, I learned this the hard way. T20 bit for a T25 screw, for example. It might work for a few screws then all of a sudden the next one gets destroyed.
In addition to automotive it is all over appliances, electronics (eg hard drives), laptops, small electronic devices including smart phones.
The Husky toolkit I purchased from Home Depot 25 years ago included Torx bits.
Here is even a tamper resistant kit you can get at Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Magnetic-Tamperproof-TORX-...
I am actually stupefied that someone can differentiate Philips from Pozidrive but isn't aware you can pick up a Torx driver set from any Walmart or Harbor Freight.
Just to show some data, go to home depot page and look at the screws categorized by drive style: I'm seeing ~2600 phillips heads, ~500 star (which appears to be torx under a different name), 55 square, and 27 torx (under the torx name).
Home Depot / Lowes is at least 50% torx screws these days. They're impossible to miss. Not sure where you're looking, but I'm talking about the actual physical store.
Especially if you look at screws intended for decking/lumber, it'll be an even higher % than 50.
That was the original comment, that is all I responded to - which is just a completely ridiculous.
And if you work on cars, you'll encounter the fasteners all the time.
But there's a very popular construction screw sold at Home Depot, etc that uses a "star" bit. The overall fastener selection at Home Depot isn't amazing, never has been - they've never been much of a hardware store. Check Grainger or something.