PNP & NPN psh-pull schemem is also widely used but as compared to single trans & resit it is more complicated. Only differenve it makes is reducing ON/OFF switching time (difference is generally is 10-200 usec range). So What u say is very correct for high speed applications like ac drive , SMPS where delay of few microseconds matter etc. But for application like relay signle NPN or PNP with gate resistace will suffice. 12 V drive is more important to keep MOSFET ON resis ( hence its heating) to mini.