Are flick locks better than twist locks?

Yes, fairly decisively. Reviewers across r/CampingandHiking and the testing publications we read prefer external lever locks (Black Diamond's FlickLock and similar quick-lock systems) because they're easier to adjust with cold hands, faster, and don't slip the way twist locks do once worn. Several long-term users on r/Ultralight specifically cite twist-lock failure as the reason they switched.