Model best practices

[eluser]sqwk[/eluser]

Code:

// Just passing the whole lot to the create function
$this->my_model->create($data);

Is there any point/advantage in using a setter functions in a model instead of passing data directly to a create/update function?

Code:

// Setting data though predefined setter functions for protected vars.
$this->my_model->set_var1($var1)
               ->set_var2($var2)
               ->create();

// The create function would then loop through the $this object and set the various vars.
foreach ($this as $variable => $value)
    $this->db->set($variable, $value);
$this->db->insert('table');