ctools export_api question: ctools_export_crud_load vs ctools_export_load_object
ctools_export_crud_load():


  Load a single exportable object.


ctools_export_crud_load_all():


  Load all exportable objects of a given type.


ctools_export_load_object():


  Load some number of exportable objects.


The first two are just shortcut functions to ctools_export_load_object() (with a bit of setup logic) ctools_export_load_object() is a more complicated function that can filter the required exportables by various criteria. The main point of interest as I can see it is that the first two accept a $reset parameter to reset the exportable(s)'s caches, whereas ctools_export_load_object() doesn't accept that parameter.

Basically, I'd say if the exportables you need to load can't be queried by using ctools_export_crud_load() or ctools_export_crud_load_all(), then use ctools_export_load_object(). Otherwise use one of the former functions, as they handle some of the necessary setup for you.