If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
I’m not sure it was that we didn’t care as much as failing to do so locks you out of a lot of the internet.
My day has come!!!
The UNION removing any dups here is what makes them the same - the top query would never have duplicates as written.
To answer the question asked, yes, these will “out the same data”. Anyone telling you they’re not the same isn’t looking at what you care about being the same - the rows output (regardless of order). From that perspective, and disregarding performance (as you also mentioned in your question) these queries will give you the same results.
Elaborate and explain
See what is happening in the world right now.