The idea behind biological filtration is to give the beneficial bacteria maximum surface area to reside on in a minimum volumetric space (for an in tank or HOB filter) with good water flow through the entire media with as little bypass flow as possible. Moving the media is of no value other than to take up more space to allow it to move.
Oh, and it gives you something to look at if you get bored with the fish, I suppose.
There is more surface area on a course sponge than on pieces of straws and it adds a mechanical filtration factor to boot. A small sponge filter is probably the most efficient use of space, mechanical filtration and biological filtration.
If you are keeping an aquarium with plants, you don't really want a bubbler anyway.
BTW, welcome to the board.:-D
Jeff.