Hmm interesting questions. I for one find ball gags hard to use, as I tend to gag, but have been using a bit gag which is far better for me to use.

I agree with gagged-Louise, so long as you are not tied so tight that your circulation is affected, rope does not really hurt. I find it such a turn on to be tied up, but you also need to trust the person doing it. Some bondage positions are far more challenging than others and not for beginners, so they can hurt.

It is also a matter of personal preference, some subs love tight bondage while others love other forms of play. I think whatever you are doing, start slow and really think about how it makes you feel. I started with a bit of simple self bondage, nothing I couldn't get out of in a hurry, but it let me know what ropes felt like before I let someone else tie me up!

Hope this helps.

Aussiegirl