I do not know which is more profitable, but I was attracted to daytrading for two reasons: 1. Never a thought about the market after the close of the last trade. And these days I feel that's even a bigger plus. 2. No need to invest time "studying" the market or the news or the fundamentals. Just find the right mechanical system and trade it. It's a bit like a 6 1/2 hour horse race and I get to change horses anytime the system says so!
Seems to me that, the majority of the Risk is to the downside for most Equities etc., and to the upside for Gold - etc. For example a Worst Case Scenario: a Dirty bomb goes off in DC or some equivalent freakout (shades of 9-11 ). Lock Limit - blown stops - Closed Markets. How do you manage that ? Day or Swing ? ( other than hedge - you don't ). Place your bet's - take your chances - Trade 5% or less of your net worth. Perhaps some of you have more insight than I ?