I have always used the spray cans to texture walls and ceilings where patched were needed. I found it to be a pretty good process and not too hard but the cans are expensive and they don't go as far as one would like. It was time to invest in a Hopper and I was happy with the results. Although we learn from trial and error I found the learning curve not to hard on this machine. Depending on your needs the spray bombs might just be what you want for the job but for bigger areas you will save a lot of money buying a hopper and compressor system even if its just for a one time job.
Pro Tip: There are three nozzle sizes and they are small, medium, and large. It is recommended that you have a large piece of card board to test out your spray pattern.