If you want a canister that can do hard floors and be able to do all carpets you'll want a canister with a powerhead for carpets. Unfortunately, there aren't many budget canisters left.

The Kenmore 200 Series $199 is the cheapest canister vacuum with a powerhead. It is cheap and it feels like it but it is capable at cleaning. I think the powerhead is decent but the hard floor brush is too small. There aren't many aftermarket hard floor brushes that will fit Kenmores so upgrades are limited. This is the only larger Kenmore hard floor brush.

The Simplicity Jill $159 is a better canister vacuum but it only has suction tools. It has a better combo brush than the Kenmore hard floor brush. It also fits standard 1.25 inch tools so you can add a turbo brush for rugs or low to medium pile carpet. You could go this route and then buy an upright if you change to carpets.

The recommended upright the Hoover T-Series is a carpet oriented machine so it wouldn't be the best for your current floors.

Thoughts?

Orecks are popular with older people because they are lightweight and easy to use and still clean better than bagless vacuums. I agree with you that swivel steering is not good for people with bad backs, bad shoulders, or arthritis. It takes more muscle control to steer a swivel vacuum.

I agree with u/SiXX5150 the best vacuum for someone is the vacuum they will use the most.

The Simplicity Jill $159 is a good budget canister vacuum just in case they don't want you to spend $300 on a James. The Jill uses hepa bags and has a hepa filter and has an automatic cord rewinder which is usually a crowd pleaser.

It sounds like you have a clog somewhere in the vacuum, possibly several places in the vacuum. And while you can unclog it the Bissell CleanView is not the best fit for hard floors because it has a brushroll that is continually spinning. The Cleanview is better for carpets but will fling stuff around on hard floors. If you can return I would because it doesn't have brushroll shutoff or hepa filtration.

This is a common problem and the third time today I'm recommending Henry, Miele, and Sebo canisters. The Henry 160 $335 very durable with large cheap hepa bags, the Miele C1 Pure Suction on sale $279 well rounded and light weight, and the Sebo K2 Kombi $399 Sebos are a good mix of durability and user features.
The Simplicity Jill $159 would be my budget pick. And I would add a swivel hard floor brush or gulper hard floor brush to any of these canisters.

Are you game for a canister vacuum? Thoughts?