One retort. If he insists that TRY..CATCH is an 'inefficient way of starting a transaction', then you could start by proving to him that it doesn't start a transaction at all.
Maybe offer him that blog post? Though if he's as set in his ways as you make out, he may refuse to read someone else's 'ignorant opinion' (as I've had my work described before 🙂 )
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability