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Is there a good reason not to use a length of Amsteel Blue (or similar) instead of Flysurfer's custom-made depower ropes? Breaking strength looks fine (1/4" or 3/16"). I know there's no sleeve unlike on the Flysurfer ropes, but my thinking is that since Amsteel is so much easier (and cheaper) to buy I'd replace it more frequently, before wear became apparent, making things safer in the big picture.

I think you can basically use any type of rope u want once its a dyneema or spectra fibre type with no stretch and a similar breaking strength and size. I personally have used many types and names throughout the years and never had any problems. there is even a synthetic dyneema out now that they use on winch ropes tht is really cheap but dosent last very long though.

Use what ever like windrider says. The break strength is not because that is needed, the rope only needs be stronger than the frontlines. It is so strong because it is thick and needs to tolerate wear. For wear you can choose many materials, dyneema is more slippery though. Many ropes have outer covers which gives excellent protection from breaking completely as the outer fails before the inner and are much cheaper than pure dyneema.

I've used 3mm dyneema and then spliced in 1mm dyneema to have standard 4mm depower rope similar to Flysurfer's implementation. Inner core is there just to be safe line for outer dyneema wear. And I've seen some well used bar/depower ropes where inner line has saved the session.

Great stuff, thanks guys!