I would only use a glaze for filling swirls but your right they do look good. Id sooner lay down a good strong sealant and then top it off with a wax. especially after a full machine polish.
If your paintwork is covered in bonded contaminates which it will be then they will transfer to your pad/s when polishing, which will then marr the f**k out of your paintwork. Ill admit ive done it before, polished a car without claying and I really struggled and had to keep washing my pads every pannel because they were covered in s**te. Especially the bottom half of the doors and front quater pannels.
Its not a huge job atall. I wash the car, drag it into the garage and then dry the car. I then go round the car claying it with last touch as a lube or any quick detailer I have lying about (so long as its not synthetic) and just wipe each pannel dry with the towel after claying it. Last touch (and other detailers) are a good drying aid and can be used to spritz a pad before polishing. Yes, it is a must. I clay atleast once a year, usually every 6 months. Your last stage products such as wax or sealant will bond better too.
A machine polish will take you a good 4-5 hours I rekon, maybe less if youve done it before, claying takes a short period of time if you work quickly.