The .44 S&W Special, like the .45 Colt, fires a big bullet at moderate velocities. It makes a nice large wound channel, and does not over-penetrate like a .38 Special with a 158gr round-nose bullet.

In the large N frame revolvers, the recoil is readily absorbed and doesn't feel like your wrist has been whacked by a karate expert. In the larger frames, it feels more like a .38 when fired. Even in the smaller L frame revolvers, the recoil is very mild, not unlike a .38 Special.

It's been refined for over 130 years, so bullet weight/caliber combinations are optimized.

They're easily reloaded. Since the pressures are relatively low, the brass tends to have a very long life. You don't need magnum primers nor hot powders, so the revolver doesn't get beat up with hot loads.

I own three S&W's in .44 Special - A Model 24-3 (3"), a model 21-4 (4"), and a model 696 (3"). I've yet to own or shoot anything more fun than these.