Hi Linda,
It's neither better nor worse.
If you set an input mask in the table properties, then when the form or
report wizards create a control bound to that field they will set the
same input mask on the control. The same thing happens when you drag the
field from the little Field List window to a form or report and Access
creates the appropriate control; but not if you create the control
manually and bind it to the field.
As far as I know that's the only difference (except of course that you
have to set the input mask on the table itself if you want its effects
to be visible in the table datasheet).
Speaking for myself I find input masks are almost always more trouble
than they're worth.
