I also prefer in-ear headphones when out and about, so would compare the AirPods to something like the Klipsch S4i [1]
Compared to the Klipsch earphones, the AirPods:
1) Are more than twice as expensive ($159 vs. $69)
2) Have significantly worse sound quality
3) Look ugly as sin; wired earphones like the Klipsch ones look just fine, and come in colors other than white
4) Require regular charging (only 5 hours of listening time); wired earphones require no charging at all
5) Are considerably easier to lose or misplace (either one or both)
6) Will have a finite life, as the battery wears out; standard wired earphones will last forever if you look after them
7) Are only compatible with current generation Apple devices; standard wired earphones have universal compatibility
8) Will likely be depreciated within a couple of generations of Apple products; wired earphones will endure
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00264GYMG/
Compared to the Klipsch earphones, the AirPods:
1) Are more than twice as expensive ($159 vs. $69)
2) Have significantly worse sound quality
3) Look ugly as sin; wired earphones like the Klipsch ones look just fine, and come in colors other than white
4) Require regular charging (only 5 hours of listening time); wired earphones require no charging at all
5) Are considerably easier to lose or misplace (either one or both)
6) Will have a finite life, as the battery wears out; standard wired earphones will last forever if you look after them
7) Are only compatible with current generation Apple devices; standard wired earphones have universal compatibility
8) Will likely be depreciated within a couple of generations of Apple products; wired earphones will endure
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00264GYMG/