I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on the use of glass or plastic beads. I personally think glass 'n brass is louder but have had occasions when glass has frayed my line. Any thoughts or opinions on the subject?

I use glass with my C-rigs and that's the only time I use them. I use them for extra noise, if I want my T-rigs to make noise I'll put a rattle in the plastic. Glass can chip and fray your line so keep an eye out and throw it away if it does.

Glass is denser than plastic so the glass gives you a sharper sound and the plastic muffles the sound. Also bead size is just as important as a variable. When carolina rigging I put a bead in front and in back of the brass weight. better sound as well as slides over rocks and gravel better -less snags