I think it depends on your personality and what you find most helpful.
I find a supportive group meeting very helpful. The weekly accountability of a group weigh-in, and the information and support afterward helps me stay motivated. I found that TOPS groups to be a better support than Weight Watcher's, however (because it's much cheaper, you can follow any food plan you wish - including WW points, and there are group contests and activities, prizes, and even conferences, rallies, and retreats).
(I'm currently not following my own advice, but am considering rejoining).
I first started Weight Watcher's (and calorie counting) when I was 8. I've dieted for so many years that Calorie counting, exchange counting, and point counting (which have all been part of Weight Watcher's programs at one time or another since I first joined in the mid 70's) are mostly automatic. Whether I'm counting calories, points, or exchanges - I rarely need a resource to look them up- I've got them all memorized for almost everything I normally eat. So they're all equally as "easy."
I do find that I personally do the best on a lower carb exchange plan (of about 1800 calories). Since all foods within an exchange are roughly the same number of calories (within about a 15 calorie span), the calories take care of themselves, and it reminds me to get in food groups that I tend to avoid if just counting calories (like dairy).
On one hand, I think exchange plans build in a bit more balanced nutrition (though you can choose less healthy options in all of the food group categories), but on the other - I think I like it best, just because it's what I personally find easiest. It's easier for me to check off little boxes, than to write down calories or even points.
(I made my own, but TOPS.org site has free food diary page pages you can print out - with the boxes for each food category for 1200, 1500, and 1800 calorie plans)
http://www.tops.org/TOPSToolsDocs/Ex...dFoodDiary.pdf