I had simular target and simular question. I looked both solutions.
I created log file with 20 mb size. Then, I loaded him into QTableView with own model, and to QTableWidget with standard model.
QTableView was more faster (about 30 sec) than QTableWidget (about 1.5 min), but solution with QTableWidget was easer.
About you question i think, if you will have big log (many information must be loaded immediately), you should use QTableView with own model. Else more easer is use QTableWidget with standard model.