Doing an Internet search and looking at photos and the floor plan for the 2013 Starcraft, I think it would be a tough call which way to go.
The Starcraft is definately more limited in overall space. The dinette folds down to a bed, and looks like it's the master bed. That means, making the bed and then setting up the table every time you use it. Not to mention ... what happens if it rains?
The bunks are tucked back, making the beds will be difficult. Quarters are tight, bathroom is small and if you have a family of 4, it will get cramped very fast. It's just a smaller trailer... it's not the trailer's fault you know.
A hybrid will have basically the same foot print, tow about the same, but give you the additional space with the beds out of the way. You won't have to set up a dinette to a bed and back again every time, unless you need it for additional sleeping space.
The down side for the hybrid: if you need a quick sleep while on the road, you have to extend the ends. And when hitched to your tow vehicle, I don't think that is possible for the front bed. There's just not enough room. Also, you are absolutely correct ... wet canvas is a real pain in the neck. If wet, you will be folding the beds up and the wet canvas is now inside your camper, dripping somewhere?
On the plus side, you have more space once set up.
After owning a pop-up camper for several years and dealing with wet canvas, closing up in the rain, and then setting up again back home to dry everything out, is just something I never want to do again.
If you camp in cold weather (I did not say snow... just cold)... like early Spring or late Fall, the canvas ends will not retain heat very well. Not to mention dew drops that form on the top (inside), or if you touch the side with your foot, you get a rain shower.
In my opinion, there's lots of "negatives" for have a tent end. The real positive however, it does make you feel closer to nature. (and if you live in bear country, I think you really don't want cloth ends).
About the Starcraft (hard sided camper). Although smaller, you will never have to deal with anything "wet" (unless it's a wet swim suit or towels left in the rain.) You can close up, keep warm, and keep dry.
If I had to choose, and those were my only 2 options, after owning 1 pop-up and 3 different trailers, I'd pick the Starcraft and not the hybrid. Although smaller, and the master bed has to be assembled every night, functionally, it's much easier to handle.
I suggest if you get the Starcraft to take along a small tent you can set up outside to put "junk" in. Nice thing about a tent, you can roll it up wet and when you get home, simply toss it over a cloths line. When we had our pop-up, we used original tent all the time for extra storage (and for a "potty" room, as we carried a port-a-potty with us all the time too).
