FOR loops are an indispensable tool to solve tasks that involve lots of similar data.
That 100 ladder rungs use marginally less cycle time than a FOR loop is irrelevant. Also, that Bubba better understands 100 rungs than a FOR loop .... really ?
If Bubba cannot grasp what a simple FOR loop does, then he should stay away from PLC programs.
WHILE loops are riskier than FOR loops since the exit from the loop is conditional, as opposed to the fixed number of passes through a FOR loop. Manipulating the FOR loop counter should be avoided for the same reason.
I use FOR loops regularly. I have never ever programmed a WHILE loop.