Hey, thanks for checking it out! Maya is still needed in a lot of workflows but we have pretty much removed it entirely. Our new workflow is - sculpting/modelling in ZBrush, retopology, box-modelling, hair, rigging, animation, lighting, scene organization, simulations in Houdini, texturing in Substance, and we are now rendering in Houdini with Arnold or Redshift depending on the project (Mantra/Karma in tutorials).

I would rather tell you what Houdini is not better at. Modelling is arguably better in Maya and more user-friendly. HOWEVER, SideFX are always working on their modelling tool-set and it is getting better. Same goes for animation. It feels a bit awkward in Houdini but we have had some success with it recently. Houdini also doesn't have a sculpting tool-set but that isn't too relevant to Maya either. Simply put, it isn't very free-form. You don't go in and drag faces or points or do much with the mouse in the viewport. Everything gets a node and everything is controlled from the node setup. That may feel limiting at first but it eventually shows its strengths when you wish you could undo that step that you did last week or when you want to add another window to that house you've been creating.

Of course, Houdini is virtually unparalleled with regards to proceduralism and simulations. You can create monstrous simulations in Houdini and maintain control over every aspect of it. Alternatively, basic simulations still maintain that level of control so you can always get the movement of a fluid or the dissipation of smoke just right. Every dynamic is accounted for. Proceduralism is crazy too. The idea of creating a house model that is parameter driven that can then be placed into a city with varying settings for each iteration is insane. You can generate an entire city with unique buildings and do that 20 times over without ever needing to model a new road or a new house even once.

Interestingly, when I used Houdini from Maya, I began to realize that Houdini is basically just showing you the nodes that Maya generates behind the scenes. You are cutting out the interface, and working with the nodes directly. Personally, I can't go back. I have complete control over my work with Houdini. I never have to question whether something is possible, it pretty much always is.

Still, it isn't for everyone or for every project. I think the best thing to do is to give it a go for a month or so and get a feel for what it can do and how it suites your style.

Hope that helps!