not exactly sure which stoves you are talking about, but the coleman just flat runs better and is easier to light using the white gas. the unleaded is a bit finicky and needs to be really fresh IME. the white gas keeps longer and you dont have to worry about it leaving residue as bad as gasoline
as to the other stoves, the multifuel had some issues with warming up the preheater well enough with deisel, and in cold or high altitudes the gas canisters can get a bit weak. in normal summer temps and altitudes under 8000 the gas stoves with the bottles run great but some are bit flimsy (a needed sacrifice for weight and well worth it). I'm not sure they save much space, as the cannister kinda balances that out. I still have and use one on occasion.
I have a military primus white gas stove that needs to be heated up properly and when it is it runs great, when it's not it's slow to heat. It is a bit bulky compared to some other options. the procedure to get it heated is to fill a indentation in the outside of the fuel tank with a bunch of gas then basically you set the whole thing on fire. looks kinda freaky but it works if you can get the fuel from IN the tank to ON the tank.
The coleman isnt the lightest or the most compact but it does work really well and the liquid fuel isnt as messy as you might thing when packed properly. bang for the buck is really high with that little coleman tho if you can deal with the extra few ounces. you really dont give up a whole lot going with one.
right now I'm keep a Vargo titanium wood burner in my day pack, but weight is a primary concern and this thing doesnt weight much, takes no extra space and is better/safer than the small open fires I'd been using to heat water.
http://www.amazon.com/Vargo-Titanium...2444146&sr=1-1
IIRC my buddy says one tank of fuel lasts him for about 3-4 days.
you'll save space by getting a pot that fits over your stove, or vice versa finding a stove and canister that fits in your pot.