i prefer YUM over APT
because YUM is similar as RHN's up2date. so i just modify RHN's up2date then i can use RHN's up2date instead of YUM
actually still is YUM

ur problem should be the MIRROR u connected is slow one
find the fast one
i've use both YUM and APT in FC3 b4 and both also fast, but YUM more packages
but now run RH AS4 with YUM and APT