I use both a sweep and a bud box. They both have their pros and cons.
The sweep is probably a little easier with one person because you can stay on the left side and work up and down from your squeeze to bringing cattle in.
With a bud box you end up taking more steps getting around thru it or on the other side.
With stupid cattle or flighty cattle that can be harder to work I prefer the bud box.
Last I checked the bud box could be out in a little cheaper. The people building the ready made sweeps are awfully proud of them.
When I'm trying to save a buck I do a modified bud box deal. Basically I dont run them past the chute. I just put a lane with two compartments that feed the chute from one side. You just moving them toward the chute by closing down the area. Most of the time on a smaller place with cattle you will be keeping for years its plenty.
I'm retrofitting an old pen right now that was the standard two section pen. It has a chute down the middle with a funnel box feeding it in line with the chute. I'm taking out the funnel box and putting a bud box in the middle that you can feed from either side. Making the chute longer where the funnel box use to be so it has a cut gate you can go left or right to cut or forward to load out. To one side it will be set up for a squeeze. In that instance where you want to feed cattle from two sides. I like the bud box. A sweep would have required a lot more money to make that work.
Basically, either gets it done really nice. I tend to go with what is cheaper to get in... in that application. Many times I'm retrofitting existing pens trying to salvage what I can.
The auto catch on the Priefert works good once you learn how to work with it. Only down side, if it is one, is eventually they get smart to it, which is ok. They usually just stand in front of it which gives you time to get on the handle and do it manually. For those that want to hit it 90mph... the harder they hit it the better it works.