Difference in protection between GFCI breaker vs receptacle?
GFCI breakers provide better protection.  GFCI outlets have unprotected exposed conductors behind the faceplate, they are going into the terminals called "line". 

The inspector may be concerned with ease of inspection, i.e. quickly determining that the kitchen has the required equipment.  GFCI outlets make that easy.  

Speaking or that, there are labeling requirements which also make that easy.  If it isn't perfectly obvious by the "test" and "reset" buttons, any GFCI protected outlet must have a label saying "GFCI protected". He would be correct to flunk you on that.