Well...when the hard foam and canvas cases came out (fairly recently) they kind of created a quandry. They really do provide
almost as much protection as a "hard" case at a fraction of the weight and cost. Calling them a gig bag is certainly not appropriate because even though the outer shell is canvas they are in no way a wimpy bag. They
will crush but it takes quite a bit of force to do so, unlike a gig bag which will crush if you look at it cross-eyed.
I call them what they are, "lightweight hard-foam cases" but that is a mouthful in casual conversation.
Honestly, for any situation other than checked baggage I've come to much prefer the hard-foam cases to traditional "hard" cases. They provide enough protection for anything short of a baggage-handling gorilla and they are much lighter and more convenient and typically have backpack straps as well. The only time I could see myself needing more protection for my ukes is if I was letting someone else (roadie, baggage handler) determine their fate. Since I'll never reach the lofty heights where I have a roadie, and since I've never checked an instrument on a flight, I love 'dem cheap "hard" cases.
My KoAloha, Mainland mango tenor, and Kiwaya are all in hard cases but I don't think I've bought another hard case since I received my first "lightweight hard foam" case.
John