>>1271648Gathered end hammocks are what are in all my images, where the hammock ends are whipped together to a single point, in these you're wanting to lay on an angle for the most comfort, although some people do still lay straight in them. They also typically want a lot of sag, about 30º from hammock to suspension.
A quick google search of "gathered end vs. bridge hammock" will yield some good comparisons for ya.
Bridge hammocks are a bit heavier because they have bars at each end that spread the hammock evenly, so you can lay straight (and on your side) without having any problems with calf-ridge.
>replacing knots and tiesSome of them, for sure, but not the case with all, like a marlin spike hitch. It's a lot more about weight and volume savings. I've tried all sorts of suspensions, from bare bones rope and biners to paracord and tree straps, but those were always really bulky compared to my current setup.