I have Commandos with full gaiters and the "wipers". The original wipers are difficult to put on, but soaking them in hot water makes them flexible enough to work with, or judicious use of a heat gun helps remove them. The full gaiters are easier to remove and replace.
I don't see any real advantage to one over the other, just aesthetics. As 79X100 points out they can hide worn or pitted tubes, but if you don't get proper sealing, it will soon leak out of these gaiters also, so it is only partially successful in this function.
The EMGO version of the short "wipers" are now made in rubber, but they seem to flex too much and don't stay put. The cheap Taiwan version of the bellows type tear easily and seem to rot rapidly when exposed to UV (sunshine).