I use slinkies almost exclusively. The main reason is that I feel they slide over the rocks alot easier, and hang-up less often. You do loose some "feeling", but I think it is worth it. Lead still comes in handy for some situations, but slinkies are superior most of the time.

The BIG drawback is the ammount of time I spend making them, or the money I costs me to pay my 14 year old daughter to make them.