As already pointed out, theres alot of myths and urban legands surrounding ceramics etc
I started using ceramics around 4-5 years back and all I ever recommend now are them...my favourite brands are Gtechniq and Gyeon...havent tried much else as I get on so well with these...all of our cars are protected using the above products and even I wouldnt go back to using a wax unless it was for a show...and even then, its a maybe depending on lighting/indoor/outdoor etc
Before that, my go to wax was Dodo Blue Velvet and Zaino range of products...since making the switch, they are just sat there in the garage collecting dust!
The initial outlay of a ceramic is alot more money, but they do last so much longer - years as opposed to weeks...gloss is always up there too
In regards to maintenance, its the same as a wax coating...you will top up a wax coating using spray detailers etc...much like you do with a ceramic coating...you dont have to, but you can! And in this respect, they dont need to be dedicated for the coating, most coatings will work well with most top up coats/spray detailers
The additional bonus besides the durability of a ceramic, is its resistance to swirls when washing and maintaining the car, thats a BIG bonus where I have found TONS of reduced marks on the paint after a years vs a wax which generally offers little to no protection to the paint
Wax has its uses and is always a pleasure to carry out, but ceramics have taken over for me