This is what I know about Sekolah Menengah Teknik. May be wrong or out of date because I checked them out a couple of years ago.

In term of food chain, Sekolah Menengah Teknik is at the very top, followed by SM Sain and SMK etc. That means they get the best of everything, money, equipment, staff etc. For example, everybody got free textbook without asking, regardless of your family financial background. And very often, their science lab are air conditioned and every shcool have their own pretty huge school bus.

In the old days, they are Vocational college/school which are mainly for those who are less academically competent. They sit for the SPM-V in Form 5 and I was told the text papers are not quite the same as normal SPM (lower standard?). And people tends to look down on these vocational students.

But a few years ago, they started SMT and it's a totally different kettle of fish. They are totally focused on engineering. Some of the SMT are brand new built from the ground up. Others are Vocational college upgraded to SMT and these operate both the Vocational and Engineering course. The aim of SMT is to attract those who are academically competent with interest in engineering. These students sit for exactly the same SPM paper with the exception of not having Biology. That was replaced with Engineering subject (you have to choose Civil, Electrical or Mechanical). And student coming from SMT might have advantage when applying for Engineering course in Pre U or Uni.

If your intention is to pursue a career in Engineering, then I would strongly suggest you have a look at SMT.  Do not discount them so easily. And unlike SM Sain and Matriculasi, SMT is fully open to non-bumi but unfortunately, not many people know about them.

AFAIK, very few SMK got those new modern big buses. Come to think about it, none in my hometown have it or give textbook without you asking for it. And practically every SM Sain and SM Teknik do.

The No.1 possible draw back would be what w00ty mentioned regarding study environment.