I use braided line extensively, and have used several brands (Spiderwire Stealth, Stren Sonic Braid, Power Pro mainly) but never original Fireline. With braid, I notice it tends to soften up after a few uses, and loses the wiry feeling. Does Fireline (not being a braided line) soften up as well? Or does it tend to retain its wiry nature?

It definitely softens up. That being said, i would never use fireline of a baitcaster, i only use fireline on spinning rods, but i absolutely LOVE it on spinning rods.

Fireline will soften up eventually but not as much as braid and it will always maintain some of its "body". I've used 20 lb Fireline on my Carolina rig rod for years. For me, it casts farther and more consistently than either mono or braid. JMHO

I love it on spinning reels. I only use Power Pro on baitcasters.

As has been said by all, it defiantly softens up, it may even start to look frayed, but maintains its strength while looking like a limp thread. I run it for one year on spinning reels with heavy use and then take it off and turn it around, I have brand new line and good to go for another year, some reels that don't get very heavy use I run two or three years before turning around.

As others, I prefer braid on other rods, and before this year used power pro as my preferred line. This year I tried Fireline Braid, and will never again spool my baitcasters with Power pro super8slick or regular. I think the new Fireline Braid is the best line I have ever run, after 3 months of use. I would also suggest the Tracer Brade color as I have found it doesn't "seem" to bleed like the Moss green, time will tell but for now it's Fireline Braid on every reel I re-spool.