I saw my first scoop back in the early to middle 80's.  Prior to that there were only skirts on balloons.  <a href=" removed link :~:text=The%20PressureScoop%E2%84%A2%2C%20or%20Scoop%2C%20was%20invented%2C%20developed%2C,and%20what%20benefits%20does%20it%20offer%20you?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Scoop was a brainchild of Cameron Balloons.  The idea was simple.  When you are holding a balloon stationary in the wind or inflating your balloon, the wind can cause the side of the balloon to cave in.  The result of the side caving in is an increased risk of burning the fabric.  The design of the scoop would catch a small portion of this breeze and direct it upwards into the balloon to help add a little bit of pressure to the envelope and help keep the side of the balloon from collapsing in.  This design worked extremely well and some of the commercial pilots at the time began to mimic the scoop by tying one side of the skirt up to create somewhat of the same effect, however nothing worked quite like the actual scoop.  In fact I know of at least one pilot who received a cease and desist order from Cameron for their "Copy" of the scoop.

It did not take long before nearly every manufacture of balloons was offering their version of the Scoop.  Slight changes were made to avoid copyright infringement and other names were used like "Dipper" and "Scroop" but essentially it was the same thing.

Now over the years more and more manufactures have made the "Scoop" the standard option for an envelope.  The "Skirt" is an additional charge and that makes sense since there is more fabric and more labor involved in making a skirt.  The "Scoop" seems to have become the choice of most yet most do not understand what the "Scoop" is for.  

The design benefit of a scoop is to help add a little more pressure to the envelope when the balloon is stationary in the wind. Additionally when flying a balloon with a scoop the temperature in the basket can often be a few degrees cooler since the mouth of the balloon is more open and allows heat spillage from the envelope to move away from the basket a couple of feet higher.   A scoop has no additional benefits.

Some pilots will swear that the scoop helps face the balloon in the proper direction for landing but this assumption has some flaws.  Since you are moving with the wind there is no real "Force" on the scoop that would turn your balloon.  Try flying a kite from your balloon the next time you fly.  The kite will just hang there since there is no force on the kite because you and the kite are floating with the wind.  Another drawback to the scoop is the increased likelihood of burning or scorching it.  We have all seen the scoops with the "Skid Mark" up the center where the flame from the burner has erased the color and turned the nomex or kynol a light shade of brown.  Many today have sewn an additional sheet of foil like fabric in the inside of the scoop to prevent the scorching.

The Design of the Skirt is for free flight!  The idea is that when you climb or descend into a different wind layer you will often get a slight cross wind in the basket.  If you have a sheer the cross wind can be strong enough to bend or redirect your burner flame.  The skirt protects the burner flame from all directions and help prevent burning the balloon.  Just like when you try to light a candle in the wind you cup your hand around the lighter to protect the flame.  The Skirt does the same thing on your balloon.  If the wind sheer is strong enough you may burn the balloon while using a scoop but it is extremely unlikely to burn the balloon with a skirt.

I get a chuckle when a i see a large ride balloon with a scoop.  The scoop does nothing for the balloon (unless you are tethering it)  When was the last time you saw someone doing a tether with a 210 or 240?  Here is the example I like to use.  Ever see a kid with a huge spoiler on the back of his Toyota Celica?  The purpose of the spoiler is to create more downward force on the rear tires so they have increased traction.  I love to ask them if they have troubles with the back end slipping or breaking loose on that FRONT WHEEL DRIVE vehicle?  

So the concluding (for me at least) if you do a bunch of tethering or tether rides a scoop may be very beneficial for you.  But if most of your flying is in free flight you should have a skirt.  If the wind is high enough that the side of your balloon is caving in during the process of going hot on inflation you may want to reconsider flying at that time.   

Fly well, Have FUN & BE SAFE