I've got two swags, both use poles. One, the OzTrail, is fiddly and takes possibly longer to setup than my old camper due to the nature of the poles. My new swag, from Kulkyne Kampers, is bigger but easier to setup due to the superior poles and attachments for same. Both my swags have the middle (of three) hoop inside the canvas. This where the ARB design is better, as it's much easier to put up with all the pole hoops on the outside.
I had the single piece of canvas swag, gave it Laith's son. It was OK and gave me great service and many good times, but much harder to use in the rain than the hoop swags, and I hated having the canvas sitting on my face. Also, it didn't have mossie nets, so I had to rig one up over it in the summer.
To suggest the hoop style or not swags is like saying live axle constant 4wd vehicles which use a switch instead of a lever aren't real 4wbies. They're simply an evolution, using knowledge, technology and materials now available.