I have seem plenty of "swirls" in the paint caused by improperly lubricated (perhaps even properly lubricated) cloth, and I have also seen chunks of cloth caught in cracks and trim as well. Anything that is not lubricated properly will show adverse results on finishes.
I would go to filament today if it was accepted by the motoring public. I know the other materials clean, but from the aspect of getting in nooks and crannies, you can't beat it. I know materials like lammscloth also get pressed into those small places, but filament is just so robust. And if you want to use a top wheel, or have a rollover that employs a top wheel, it pretty much has to be foam or filament, and I believe there is a lot more "flex" in the fibers going over wipers, racks, etc., not to mention their much smaller size.
Can they extrude the foam material so it more closely resembles filament strands rather that the fingers cut into cloth panels? Perhaps attatch it in a spiral design to the core, as Hanna used to? Would that make each piece too light to effectively clean?