I guess it depends on the question we're asking and answering. Maybe the wrong question was asked? Does an armed and trained populace prevent a constitutional disorder? It seems that no-one would say the Swiss system was worth imitating if, two or three times since they instituted it, there were military coups including a multi-generational dictatorship. A refined question certainly improves the appearance of the Swiss system without seeming arbitrary.

On the other hand, who knows. Maybe the Swiss democracy is like the American democracy - and primarily exists to serve the interests of a well connected minority. It's hard to say it's good to keep a system that preserves the interests of a powerful minority in that kind of context.