Yes, Ratcatcher, whatever suits YOU best is the best type of awning. What suits me might not suit you, and vice-versa, so we all have our own choices to make. There is no one type that is "best" for everyone. Air or poled, both have their advantages and disadvantages.
No problem Ratcatcher, that's very easily done with the written word. It's not like talking to someone face to face. I certainly wasn't having a go, and I apologise if I came across that way.
I would strip everything off it that detaches to make it as light as possible. Unfortunately the one we had came all in one piece which made it too heavy for us to manage easily. One of the things I like most about our current poled awning is that it comes in 5 pieces.