I have done both of these methods and find that most of the time, the only way furniture is ok is when the seller is still living in the house. Honestly, when I purchased my home it was empty, and I enjoyed that because I could place my own furniture or things I wanted to get later into the room in my head and know that I can do the things that I wanted to do with it.

Maybe for some houses having the staging as you called it is a good thing. I guess that it could help people to see that their furniture might fit in a room vs. looking at a room and thinking it is too small for the furniture.