Use of inductors vs resistors
With a resistor is the current in phase with the voltage so the power = voltage * current

With an inductor the current is 90° out of phase with the voltage
so you'll get something like this:

Because an inductor doesn't want any current change the inductor will work against it.
So the current makes a 90° phase shift. in that way if you look at the current voltage plot
you can also have a positive current with a negative voltage this means you have a 

negative power consumption = power generation
 so the power = voltage * current * cos(alpha)

in that way the inductors reactance (=2*piLf) also has a resistance to limit the current but with that advantage it won't use any power in contrast with a resistor.