It really depends. For the most part, I prefer the atmosphere the sounds of anime bring (like music and such) as well as the animation, but sometimes censorship happens and lessens the impact, or the animation is a bit wonky (Pain, I'm looking at you) etc.

Interesting case, since you bring up Full Metal Alchemist. The second anime, Brotherhood, that follows the manga story rushes through the first 12 episodes. This is partly because the original anime covered those same events and so they didn't want to bog viewers down (also because they were pretty quick in the manga too; she hadn't gotten the pacing quite down yet) but then it slows down and IMO surpasses the manga in quality.

Like, there's one scene where Ed is getting dragged through the Door of truth by the very forces of reality. In the manga, he manages to say one last line to his brother's body (which is still self-aware, despite not having a soul in it). In the anime, he gets pulled through the door before he can say it...

...then punches it back open through sheer force of will to say that last line as the opening theme plays. It's a small change, but it adds so much "punch", if you'll pardon the pun.

Then there instances like Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, where you need to keep track of both, as the manga acts as supplemental material to the anime. It isn't needed to enjoy the anime, but it does help flesh out the setting.

>Anime vs Manga

No matter who wins, everyone loses.

I kinda like both, but I prefer mangas mainly because I prefer reading them on the go...and reading mangas online in class is much more practical than watching an anime...

I tend to find that in the case of popular manga that have anime adaptations, the manga is better. Otherwise, anime.

...though then there are manga like King of Thorn and Otaku no Musume-san that are just amazing.

I usually prefer manga over anime even though I don't really read/watch much anymore. I have kind of grown out of it.
Usually if I read the manga before seeing the anime, I like the manga better, and vise versa.
I just feel like manga goes by faster and does not bore me as much.
But like others have said, it all depends.
Each have their charms.
I sometimes like how manga and and anime have changes between them because the anime will sometimes surprise you.

I prefer Anime, love anime to death. Its because of the music and sounds. You can hear the emotion coming from the character rather than reading about it. However I will read manga if necessary. If its weird series like .hack// is where the story is spread out between anime and manga and video game series but all connected then I'll do it.

Yea its kinda silly lol. They spread it out so far. It goes like this
Beginning of story: Graphic Novels .hack//AI Buster vol. 1 and 2
Then: Anime .hack//SIGN
Then: Playstation 2
.hack//Infection Vol. 1,
.hack//Mutation Vol. 2,
.hack//Outbreak Vol. 3,
.hack//Quarantine Vol. 4.

Also dont forget: 4 part anime series that CAME WITH the 4 PS2 games above and they take place at the same time as the game.
.hack//Liminality Vol. 1 In the case of Mai Minase,
.hack//Liminality Vol. 2 In the case of Yuki Aihara,
.hack//Liminality Vol. 3 In the case of Kyoto Tohno,
and .hack//Liminality Vol. 4 Trismegistus.

Then: Anime .hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet
Then: Anime .hack//ROOTS
Then: Playstation 2
.hack//G.U. Vol. 1 Rebirth,
.hack//G.U. Vol. 2 Reminisce,
.hack//G.U. Vol. 3 Redemption.
Then: PSP game .hack//LINK
Last: Happening now Anime .hack//Quantum

Heres the wiki http://dothack.wikia.com/wiki/.hack//Wiki

I don't read a lot of manga nowadays, I mostly just check when my friends remind me. I do still watch a sort of seasonal selection of anime, though. If I had to say which I'd prefer, it's probably anime, since I can just let it play while I eat or fold clothes. Sort of a lame reason, I know. :'D

lol I loved .hack so much, Im sad its come to and end. No more manga, video games, or animes to expect from them ever again.