At least out here in the West, campfires are banned in many places, and it's not a matter of choice.

During the dry season, which at least in the mountains coincides with backpacking season, open fires are strictly forbidden due to the wildfire danger. In the past few years, many jurisdictions insist that we use only a UL-rated stove with an on-off switch, which means no alcohol stoves, no esbit, and definitely no wood stoves--all that is legal are isobutane canister or gasoline stoves.

For environmental reasons, in the western mountains campfires are generally banned above a certain altitude even when the weather isn't dry. This is because firewood is in short supply as you get close to timberline, and what little dead wood exists there is needed to rot and replenish the thin soils. In addition, fire rings scar the ground permanently in those areas of thin soils and very short growing season. Even at lower altitudes, scars from campfires can last for several years.