Do you like the SPFILE or are you using the classic init.ora for changes in the Oracle-Environment like sga-parameters?

I like SPFILES more than the text-parameter-files. The advantage of a text-parameter file (init.ora) to the server-parameter-file (spfile) is that you can read it with a simple editor. The disadvantage is that you had to restart the whole instance to change sga-parameters, but also more simple parameters like SMTP_OUT_SERVER. With SPFILE you can do this with an running instance by typing for example: alter system set smtp_out_server='mail.xyz.at' scope=spfile;

If you are using Oracle-Failsafe Failsafe is  not capable to use spfiles, and that's a annoying thing if you are used to it.  But there is a workaround. Create a text-parameter-file (the best would be on the shared cluster-disk) and point it to the spfile by using the SPFILE Parameter.

Your text-parameter-file would look similar to this: spfile=h:\oradata\spfileprod.ora