What’s your personal preference and your reasons for your preferences?
I only ask as I’ve just bought my first passive/active bass and am interested in opinions on which you prefer? I instinctively prefer passive as you don’t have to mess around with batteries, but a battery change on my new bass literally takes two or three seconds due to the clever design of the battery holder.
I agree with you. My bass has an active/passive switch. I have played on both and I honestly can’t tell the difference.
It depends
If I were in a metal band a pair of active EMG humbuckers would fit nice
If we were playing Motown a nice passive P would set back in the pocket.
No right or wrong answer. I tend to prefer passive, and do the color on a pedalboard.
The Ibanez I did the B2B course on had both and a majority of the time I played it ( badly) as an passive bass.
This was because in my head I felt I could hear more mistakes when it was in active mode !
Probably beginners paranoia but it has definitely shaped my buying habits
I wish as a beginner I started with a P bass. Volume, Tone, and nothing else to worry about.
Q: Active or Passive?
A: Depends
Like all things.
If I had to pick, passive.
You can do all the active things in a preamp pedal.
Actives are good if you want something specific without the need for outboard gear, but, then you are locked into that preamp.
So, depends.
Haven’t really got a preference, but haven’t been playing bass long enough to form one. I’ve got an active Schechter and a passive Squire. I like both, but would be more inclined to grab the Schechter if I’m playing metal 
I know it’s only a small thing, but I don’t like that I can’t leave my active bass plugged in when not playing - I like to be able to quickly pick up and play multiple times during the day if I can. I’ve flattened a few 9v batteries by mistake 
Passive all day long. Just don’t even want to think about batteries. I’ve got enough going on as it is. 
Full disclosure: I’ve never played an active bass that I can recall. Maybe in a store?
For me, besides the simplicity, I just don’t play any music that would need an active instrument. I’m playing mostly classic rock, country, etc. Basic cover band material. The vast majority of it was recorded on “traditional” (i.e., passive) instruments, and anything that wasn’t… by the second or third set, I guarantee the audience doesn’t notice or care one way or the other — and won’t remember tomorrow morning anyway! 
At that point, I’m back where I started: I just don’t like batteries.
I’m a pasitive king of guy!
Yes or even a JB
Yeah, a Jazz works too, which was my second bass.
I have both flavors, passive and active.
I don’t own a preamp pedal, so when I play my passives, they are what they are.
I play my other basses in active and passive modes. The difference in tone between modes is very apparent, and I like how they sound, both ways.
Whatever makes the sound i want. 
I play mostly passive basses, my pbass the vast majority of the time. i don’t like the preamp sound on my GWB35 bass, i do like the preamp on my Sire M7. Batteries last me over a year, that’s really not a consideration for me.
I don’t leave any basses plugged in; it takes like 2 seconds to plug/unplug a bass.
it’s too bad “active” basses weren’t called “aggressive”: then you could have a “passive/aggressive” switch
Of course this assumes you are prepared for the eventuality and pack a spare battery in your case/gig bag. 
I can’t count the number of times someone with an active setup had their battery fail only to discover they did not have a spare on hand.
I can tell the difference on my Yamaha TRBX504 and the active/passive switch is the main reason I upgraded from the TRBX304. Well that and the upgraded pickups and electronics.
I just could not get the tone I wanted with the active only setup of the TRBX304. YMMV
I have a Sire M5, which has the same preamp as the M7. I love it. Super-versatile.
Well active/ passive switch is there for many reasons. One of the more important reason is once you are out of juice you can switch to passive and keep on playing. Most of the active/passive would have at least the basic EQ bass/mid/treble in passive mode you don’t have that. Only a few preamps, I’ve used that have the passive tone control.
I’m an EMG guy by choice as I like their tone and the silence that comes with the design. They are not louder but the 9v power is used to counter the 60 cycle hums. If they have more exposed pole model instead of sealed and some big magnet poles, I’d probably own only EMG. They sound great in the studio and require very little fixes in post and super reliable. You can have what you want in terms of preamp setup
When ever I have a chance or choice I’d go with the active route with the passive switch. It’s not very difficult to live with an active system unless you like to leave your bass plugged in, lol. If you like a one bass that does it all you’d want an active/ passive. My John East Marcus Retro is quite awesome. The “tone knob” works in both active and passive. Fishman pickups and preamps are also very unique and very awesome for bass the unique voice at a flick of a switch/ knob is very useful. I have not road tested mine but so far so good.
Yep, my Mayones passive tone knob works when the push/pull switch is set to active. Really expands the tone shaping possibilities of the preamp.
I prefer passive too. Mainly because I like to be more modular with different preamps.
Altho I have to admit my active Dingwall sounds sick.