I think you'll find Savage used a rotary magazine LONG before Ruger ever did, but then again you're right - they should have just used the Ruger mag design as-is (especially considering the corporation that owns Savage also owns Butler Creek which has been making 10/22 mags for decades).

That said, a lot of folks seem to have trouble loading these mags for some reason. There's definitely a trick to it, but it's nothing too difficult. Basically you have to make sure to get the rim back in under the little lip on the rotor before trying to push the round fully into the magazine. Been well over a year since I last played with one, but IIRC I was starting the round in at about 45-degrees to the slot to get the rim in then straightened it out as I pushed it fully in.

I have an A22 Magnum coming for review in another month or so so I'll try to remember to shoot a quick video of how I load them.