Very quick thought, given the question has been asked in a while. The question misses an important point: which 2x? While 3x systems are quite homogenous, choosing a better one is more a choice of having something more qualitative, it's not the case of 2x system, that are quite specialised. On upper ranges, road ones may be inadequate for hybrid bikes (to high ratios, aimed at finding the most optimum output in a race), and the same applies to the MTB ones, that have huge range ...but at slow speeds, in conditions that are unlikely met on an hybrid. The middle ground is found on gravel groupsets, but deriving from road specs (68mm bottom bracket), most hybrids are out of the game.
To my opinion, the range/ratios offered by 3x is best for hybrids. Having a 2x that reproduces it is doable, but mostly with non-mainstream components, mostly because it requires a hub capacity (47T). With a 73mm bottom bracket, the only option I'm aware of is based on an Acera 46/30 crankset and Microshift Advent 9-speed (11-42). With a 68mm and 11 speed, it's possible to use the GRX cranksets, and some Deore derailleurs that are still available for sale, but in ranges that are not used anymore (XT M8000). If not needing super low ratios, a full GRX or Acera (46/30 front, 11/36 rear) would give a nice range, but not much more than what can be offered on a 1x with 11/51 cassette — I'm considering that replacing the rear hub is considered).
I personally have 2 bikes with that kind of range: a trekking with a 3x9 SLX (48/34/24 front, 11/34 rear), that I use as "commuter", and an sporty hybrid with 2x10 (the Acera 46/30 crankset I mentioned, coupled with a 11/42 10 speed Deore — I'm off-spec for the derailleur, so I don't recommend that, even if it works fine to my taste). Between the two, I prefer the 2x, mostly because it doesn't require the mental exercice that the 3x9 requires: there's enough range with the cassette, so it's more or less the big chainring on-road, the small chainring off-road and in the steepest hills. And I also like the possibility to just drop one chainring down when stopping.
Now in terms of recommendations, to answer the question:
Go for the 3x if:
- if your budget is limited, the weight of the extra chainring is negligible, and on entry level-parts, the prices between 2x and 3x components are in fact very close.
- the availability of spare parts is important
Go for the 2x if:
- if the ease of operation is important, but you need more range than what can be offered by a 1x
- you can deal with not widely available components — except if in 11-speed and if the bottom bracket is 68mm, where it's possible to use mainstream gravel components (the hard part of the equation is in fact the crankset).