I do prefer express in .177 and rs in .22 (though I rarely have .22 rifles).
The way springers develop their power means that lighter pellets are far more efficient and can be tuned to a very nice shot cycle.
I've found that springers that don't make better power with lighter pellets are generally oversprung and badly set up. Usually out of the box rifles.
I've not come across a springer yet in .177 that doesn't like express.