It is never easy to simply list pros and cons on this issue…
Speaking from my experience, knowing traditional Chinese characters can help you feel the essence of the Chinese culture more. I have been to the Palace Museum in Taipei several times for different exhibitions, and I can assure you that being able to read the traditional Chinese characters really helps me appreciate the beauty and the wonders of those exhibits (calligraphy works, Chinese paintings, etc.)
The first round of official character simplifications was introduced in 1956. Yes, classical Chinese literatures can be re-printed in simplified Chinese characters, but unfortunately, there are occasions of ambiguities because simplified Chinese sometimes cannot deliver the message as clearly as traditional Chinese characters do.
People's experience is: learning traditional Chinese characters first, then simplified ones is way easier than learning simplified Chinese characters first, then traditional ones.
I hope these are good enough because many other points can be quite debatable…