Well, thank you all. I'm finding I can wind size 20 parachutes just fine with neck hackle, and don't really see the point of using stiffer saddle quills just because it's hard. I was just a bit surprised to find such a difference caused by a feather attribute (quill stiffness) I'd never even thought about.

By the way, I'm 1/3 of the way to my New Year's goal of tying 100 doz. dry flies to finally get the proportions down, so hopefuully you won't mind more beginner questions as I carry on.