Am I the only one who thinks rods beat ropes on old clay flues?

I've been at this 14 years and I'll say it straight: I'd take a set of poly rods over a rope and brush on any pre-1960 home, and I don't care who disagrees. Back in March I quoted a place in Albany with a 1930s clay tile flue that had two soft spots near the smoke shelf, and the homeowner wanted the rope guy his brother recommended. That guy snapped his line twice in one afternoon and left a brush stuck 9 feet up, and I spent a Saturday pulling it out with a rod and a hook. With rods I can feel where the tile edge catches and back off before I crack anything, and on a 30 foot chimney the control is just better. Ropes are fine for a straight stainless liner, sure, but on old clay with offsets I want something I can steer. The rods cost me about 180 bucks for the set and they've paid for themselves in saved brushes alone. Any of you still running rope first on old masonry, and if so why?