Recliners are built for comfort-first seating — great for a family TV room or a reading corner. But they need extra clearance space to fully recline, and their mechanisms need occasional servicing.
A regular sofa is more flexible for seating more people in less space, easier to reupholster later, and generally lower maintenance since there's no mechanical part to service.
If comfort and relaxation is the priority and you have the floor space, a recliner is worth it. If you host often or have a smaller living room, a well-cushioned regular sofa usually serves better.