So far, I have three sopranos, (two traditional, and one Banjo Uke). My SK-35 has good friction tuners, but my throwdown Uke has geared. When I restored my vintage Banjo Uke, I replaced the old worn out vintage friction tuners, I did replace them with a nice set of geared tuners. I am a huge fan of nostalgia, and being a collector of antique anything really (especially machinery and technology), I do like to keep the "Charm" of vintage, and do so on static, or display type of antiques, and like to preserve the vintage technology, but for my antiques I actually use, and are functional, I will upgrade them, but try to keep as much original as possible, but see nothing wrong with making it better than it was. So, that also crossed over to my vintage instruments, and my 1930s Banjo Uke was upgraded to geared. However, that said, I also have a 1930's Gretsch tenor banjo that I was able to restore the original vintage friction tuners, and I play it with it's original friction. When the day comes those are no longer serviceable, it will probably get planitary gears (which does maintain the nostalgic look of friction).
I love the soprano Uke, and to date been solely soprano, but not totally loyal to the size, and want to someday get me a nice concert, or tenor. Not sold on the Baratone, before I went to those, I would simply return to a standard 6 string guitar.
Just my take..