Silica indeed lasts much longer but I find it has a taste I dislike that isn't there withI just wind my coils and then shove the rope in. If you size your coil to the size of the Silica rope it is fairly quick and painless process. The rope can handle over 1000F so it is durable and lasts months. (no worries of getting burnt during normal vaping temperatures ether)
Silica rope is about all I use anymore.
cotton or rayon.
I use mostly rayon now, but have some japanese cotton I use on drippers
and some silly rope in my end of the world stash..the stuff they give you
with spare screws and o-rings that get put in a drawer.
If you haven't tried rayon I highly recommend it. It doesn't burn like cotton and it's tasteless
Regards,
Hazy