I'd like to hear your thoughts, how
they compare to loops.

I have had ties for quite awhile, I have not used it much in recent years, but it definitely will help you make your own loops of I.T., I bought a spool of the thread that Yigel Mesika makes, works very well if you don't mind DIY.

TIES are tiny bit thicker than loops, so a tad more visible. That said, they are much cheaper. I am not an expert with it, but considered that you have to be careful with the lighting, I would say that when you usually feel safe to perform with mesika loops, you're probably also safe to perform with ties. Both are black in order not to reflect light. I support music's idea of making your own loops of I.T! It might be a bit slow the first 1 or 2 times, but afterwards, you'll be able to do it in no time and it is infinitely cheaper.

Cheers
Pedro