The indicated sticking (RRLLRRL) can be played at a higher speed by utilizing stick bounce, like you would in the standard double-stroke roll, than could you could easily achieve with single strokes (RLRLRLR) This is just a set length. This Seven Stroke Roll is just a double-stroke roll of finite length with a single stroke at the end.
The other thing that's nice about this sticking is that it can easily accommodate added musicalilty. For instance, in set drumming, you might use a rudiment like this as a small fill or flourish. You might then want to shape the rudiment to put an emphasis on that last stroke. diga-diga-diga-DAH! The fact that there are two right hand strokes before the last stroke gives your left hand time to wind up a harder stroke or rimshot, or move to another drum or crash cymbal.
In theory there is no difference between (RRLLRRL) and (RLRLRLR), but in practice there always will be. They may not even sound different, but they will feel different to you. It's good to practice both. (RRLLRRL) I think is easier to play quickly and easier to shape, but it's difficult to play quickly on drums that don't bounce well (like toms). (RLRLRLR) is easier to play on drums that don't bounce well or to play slowly, where bouncing is cumbersome. It's also easier to play the whole thing at max volume, like if you wanted all seven strokes to be rimshots. So ideally you want to practice until both styles come completely natural to you, and you can easily transition from one to the other. That way you can choose which one you think better fits the context of what you're playing.
So to explicitly answer your question, you aren't really playing a different tune when you play (RRLLRRL) vs (RLRLRLR) if they are both played in exactly the same way. But the two different ways lend themselves more easily to playing different tunes.