Loading without a tool is a lot easier than unloading. The first five usually go in pretty easy. Its usually the last round thats the hardest, and a Leatherman, or similar needlenose type pair of pliers, makes setting the last round easy. Just come down from the top, one jaw on the inside of the clip, one on the outside of the rim of the round, plumb the round up, and squeeze gently. Pops right in.
I have one of the rotating loaders, and it works, but it tends to be "fumbly", and I find doing it by hand with the Leatherman is faster and easier.
Unloading, Ive found the tool like Todd makes above, to work the slickest. Slip over the case and twist. Empty drops into the tube. The one I use also holds 6 empty cases off 45 in the tube, so you dont have to stop and dump each round. If you make your own, use a longer tube, or leave the rubber slip on "grip" off, and they would just drop out the end into a container or where ever.