Is bulk-logged recovery model ever a good choice if point-in-time restore is not needed? Is the Bulk-Logged recovery model in SQL Server ever preferable to Simple if point-in-time restore is never needed? I have read many articles about transaction log models, but cannot find a clear answer to this. The database in question has a lot of activity during nightly loading, but the data doesn't change after that. I am doing a full backup daily. Wouldn't Simple be the best choice here, while also potentially using less storage?
No, use simple

Bulk-Logged is a special case of FULL, not an enhanced version of SIMPLE.


Bulk logged requires log backups otherwise the transaction log grows (as per full). This takes more space.
Simple does not require log backups: the log will (normally) be cleared by the DB Engine.


Bulk logged with minimally logged operations also requires the data files to be present. Full does not because each row changes is logged. This introduces another complexity.

So use SIMPLE if you can restore to the last full database backup

If you have a nightly load, then using DIFF backups is probably enough to give you extra restore capabilities.

Note, I don't think I've ever used bulk logged recovery since SQL Server 6.5