You're right, 1400km is way too much although 800km surprises me. You can easily add 100-200km depending on where you end up on the St-Lawrence. Anyway, I still prefer the short loop. It leaves more time to do the tourist thing and you ride through Gaspésie park. The 299 is one of the quietest highway I rode on.
I should've said northeast for the trucks. The traffic up to Ste-Anne-des-Monts is a reason why I prefer the short loop. The scenery is not as nice either. Truck traffic quiets down even more passed the highway 198. Too many hills and fewer and smaller villages to deliver to.