camo

Its really not a big deal I used to cut a lot of my guards down the same way you did. Jig fishing/swim jigs like anything require confidence and if that's what gives you yours then so be it and laugh at us naysayers

What depth are you mostly fishing and what size jig? The common thing to do while fishing a jig in the wind is to upsize so you can still feel your jig. Also fishing a jig very deep requires in my experience a different rod then pitching and flipping shallow waters.

You defiantly did not make them unfishable. You can still cut some strands at the base if you feel you might be missing fish because of the guard. Also fanning the guard out left to right like you asked about defiantly helps. Have fun and tight lines.

A longer guard is more flimsey vs a shorter guard same concept as when yyou would snap twigs as a kid that long twig would snap like a tooth pick and those short ones would leave you in frustration.

The above or find a smoke shop and pick up a digital scale there.

There are no downsides to using living rubber. The thing is living rubber is limited to only a few different colors. Silicone is made in any color imaginable. I am an avid jig fisherman and fish jigs year round and when I feel I can get away with it I prefer living rubber because I feel it looks more life like and almost breathing/pulsating on it's own. Is it big enough to make a difference to a bass? Who knows but I catch just as many on silicone. I suggest fishing colors you are confident in and if that happens to be living rubber then so be it.