I prefer brooder plates now if I have to raise them, but heat bulbs are easier with larger amounts of birds. I love that safety with heat lamps is stressed.
I have done as many as 42 with MHP system. If I don't have a broody, MHP is my choice. But, I can see the necessity of a heat lamp if brooding a huge number of chicks. If I was brooding 50 or more, I'd build an Ohio brooder.