I hear what you're saying.
I did the full car cover thing when I had my '86 VW GLI, and used it religiously when the car was new. I don't recall the brand, but it was a top of the line "fair weather" cover primarily for summer use. It was custom fit, with sewn in corner pockets kind of like a fitted sheet, so no straps or clips, etc.
Anyway, I think I'd only do a full cover again if it was for a car that was stored clean indoors for long periods of time like a show car or summer only driver, and I wanted to keep the dust off. I wouldn't use one for a daily driver again.
With my old cover, I wouldn't put it on if the car was the least bit dirty, due to the risk of scratches. It was big and bulky, so even if you had your install/removal method down, it was still a hassle for one person, especially if there was any wind blowing, etc., and it took up quite a bit of trunk space. It was also bulky for washing. I had to take it to the coin op and put it in one of those big industrial washers if I wanted to wash it.
This CA Pop Top seems like it might solve some of those problems. 1) Your car generally gets dirty from the bottom up. The roof is usually the cleanest thing on your car unless you have bird bombs, so there would be fewer times that you'd leave it off due to dirt. 2) It's less than half the bulk, so easier to install, less room to store and you can wash it in your washing machine at home.
Granted, you're not going to get paint protection out of it, but that's what your wax/sealant is for. My primary interests would be in keeping the sun off the interior during the summer, and keeping snow and ice off the windows during the winter. It's a PITA scraping windows every morning or after one of the ice storms we've had here in recent years.
Anyway, that's all hypothetical. I've never used one, so I'm only guessing. The Pop Top might be just as limited as a full cover in real life and could be just another $60 down the drain.
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