'Well, if you don't mind the extra work, then why not a 50-year old Kirby with a Sani-Emtor'
Because the cloth bag will clog, and stay clogged. At least with a paper bag, you 'reset' performance each time you change it! Why not put a particle counter next to the 50-year old cloth bag while it's running, and let us know how much dust it's blowing straight back into the room?
'IMHO there is no economy, and no CONVENIENCE in a bagless vacuum.'
No consumables to buy, and no time spent buying them. No panic if you've run out of bags. I'd call that economy AND convenience.
'Watching the dirt swirl around inside a clear collection bin is a novelty, nothing more.'
No, it's the outer cyclone removing bulky debris from the airstream. The 'swirling' is integral to the function of the design.
'Even with the bin empty, bacteria-laden germs [care to explain that phrase?!] can cling to the sides.'
And I suppose the inside of a cloth outer bag, or hard bag casing, is totally, 100% bacteria free? Hate to disturb anyone's Howard Hughes complex, but everything, everywhere is crawling with bacteria! At least you can wash a dirt bin if you want!