why are loose balls preferable? i understand that more balls is preferable, and that you can fit more loose balls than you can with a cage. on the other hand, i've heard that the cage keeps the balls evenly spaced and prevents then from rubbing on each other. the cage itself is a softer metal and so shouldn't wear the balls from rubbing on them.
strangely, both the campy GS cups and the tange cups take 11 1/4" balls, but the campy balls come with a campy cage while the tange balls are loose.