Thanks. I thought the loops were pretty ugly, but as Ultrastang mentioned they are functional. The main benefit for me is the flexibility to move the connector around to line up with the port.
I would also add a couple of things they didn't mention in the article on flaring brake lines: 1) It's vitaly important to have the bar clamp tight that holds the tube, and 2) you have to tighten the forming tool down until the die bottoms out against the bar. I always use pliers to tighten the bar clamp down, because sometimes when I just use hand pressure the line slips, and the end is ruined. It only takes a few seconds to tighten the bar down hard with pliers. The sliding handle in the forming tool could stand to be about 2" longer, and another 1/2" in diameter, but you can crank it all the way down by hand, you just have to turn until it hurts.
Not that long ago I dreaded forming brake lines. Now that I've figured out how to do it, it's a snap.