I have several sets of the box clamps that use the looooong threaded rods. Fortunately they arrived with (brass) nuts using the same wallowed out hole as your review subject. They do perform their intended function without complaint, BUT, when there are four of the buggers to tighten, those that are not snugged up will slide back off when inverted to get access to the others.
This is where the "button" style would be much better.
As to using wing nuts, if the fit is such that you can flick one of the ears and they spin freely, I have used my air compressor hose to motivate them to post-haste it down the rod. Kind of fun too!