Dude i recently tried silica in my rsst too, works ok but i still stick with mesh. i also tried ekowool since i read that was supposedly better than silica. Flavour was better, but it wicks too slow for me to use in a gennie.
I purchased some various diameter wire rope, 1mm., 2mm, 3mm. I was very disapointed, for me it didnt live up to par to mesh wicks, neither on flavour or vape, it also wicks slower, and much more powerconsuming (cuz its solid i assume).
This is just my opinion, but if u found a ss mesh wick size that works for u in ur gennie, it works better than wirerope.
i also wonder where to get ceramic wicks, and what are the pros and cons on those over ss mesh wick?