I've built with both, but lately only poured, as blocklayers are few and far between. (The home I'm in now combines poured and block construction.) Block walls have far greater compressive strength than poured walls, but have less lateral strength. The biggest negative to block walls used to be waterproofing. But using a Delta type membrane or other exterior waterproofing eliminates that differential. There are a host of technical/workmanship matters with both types of walls that are the builder's responsibility to monitor.

There may indeed by a savings! And in my area many basements were built this way for exactly that reason. Here's how the savings works: Forms typically come in either 8 or 10 ft. heights. Concrete forming companies charge a premium for bringing in, setting up and stripping the higher forms. So, to get greater ceiling height in the basement, the builder will add a row of one or two concrete (not cinder) blocks. Now, personally, I prefer the greater lateral strength of poured vs. concrete masonry units and the speed of construction. However, I have added two rows where there was a mistake in the excavation depth or the customer decided they wanted greater ceiling height than the plans showed. (You have to watch the roof height in that case!) Local costs may well change the balance. As for basement heights: If you want eight foot clear, you must go to nine feet to conceal ducts and services. However, if the basement is deep below grade, you might reconsider ten foot heights, unless there's a walkout on one side. When you have to stand on a step ladder to even reach the sill of a basement window, more than a bit of claustrophobia may set in.

I'm a builder and building inspector and have installed or inspected close to a thousand precast 'superior' walls foundations. Superior walls are stronger than block or poured concrete walls being engineered to 5000 psf or greater. Because of the density of the concrete, the walls are tested and listed to be installed without waterproofing or dampproofing. Superior walls and other similar types of precast foundation systems come pre-insulated. Superior walls come with built-in "studs" that make up the walls. There is no therefore no additional requirement to frame walls with Superior walls if one wishes to finish the basement. These studs and plates come pre-bored for ease of bolting on plates and pulling wire cables. Wall sections can easily be cut to add windows or door openings after installation...or bored for utility installations. Dollar for dollar pre-cast walls are much cheaper than conventional walls, are stronger, and afford the easiest installation. And while pre-cast wall systems, like block or concrete foundations walls also cannot be installed on frozen soil, Pre-cast concrete walls provide the most consistent, lowest risk, and safest winter installation possible. In my experience, pre-cast walls systems are superior to block and concrete without doubt.

We have a superior walls foundation in our ongoing new build, foundation was complete in February/beginning of March (2016). I have never lived in a home with this foundation system, but it came highly recommended by basically everyone. We're impressed so far, although we haven't lived with it. It is quite obviously superior to a block foundation when you see it in person. We have a crawlspace foundation with a concrete floor, and it will be conditioned space. Our builder uses this foundation system almost exclusively, and we toured homes he built with full basements as well. Is it ok to post links to a personal blog? The post with the foundation pics is here if you are interested: https://amytracker.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/house-2-0-foundation-and-subfloor/