Would I have been better off to have gone bankrupt rather than an IVA route as regards the time the credit record showing the IVA details for a longer period of time?
No, bankruptcy stays on your file for six years, the same as an IVA does.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk