The original post clearly establishes the context for the question as network filtering and asks about 3 things as if they were equivalent things: route map, prefix list, or distribute-list. And asks if one has advantages over the others. If we can clarify the differences in what they do then it should be easier to identify which one is best in a particular context.
To start with the easiest one - a prefix list defines a list of network prefixes, specifying a network address, a bit mask, and potentially a range of prefix lengths. The prefix list can either permit or deny the specified set of network prefixes. But by itself a prefix list does not take any action. The prefix list must be called by something.
Which takes us to distribute lists. A distribute list is used in the configuration of a routing protocol and controls what prefixes might be learned or what prefixes might be advertised. The distribute list will call something to identify particular prefixes to be controlled, which might be a prefix list or might be an access list.
A route map has multiple potential uses but this post is specifically about network filtering, so we will concentrate on that use. A route map (similar to a distribute list) may call something to identify particular prefixes to be controlled (could be prefix list or access list) but a route map does not necessarily require a match statement calling one of these. And a route map has the ability not only to be selective about what is advertised/or learned but also has the ability to change attributes of the prefixes being advertised/learned using the set command.
So these three commands do quite different things. Depending on what you want to accomplish it should be possible to choose the more effective tool.
HTH
Rick
