Any decent quality ceramic guide is going to be just fine for braided line.
While many claim braids are hard on guides, they aren't. Braids are made from spun polyethelene plastic. Milk jug plastic. Its naturally "waxy". The problems people have is actually caused from the grit that clings to the line. And braid holds more grit than other lines.
Some hardness values of various guide materials...
Stainless Steel (SS): 400
Chrome: 800-1000
Carbaloy: 1000
Aluminum Oxide: 1200-1400
Alconite : 1300-1500
NanoLite : 1800
Zirconia: 1000-1400
Zirconia PVD: 1600
SiC: 2200-2400
On a custom rod I typically stick with Alconite and above.
The first set of Recoil guides I used grooved within 6 months. Casual weekend angler.
Here are some photos of a guide. Wisconsin Bass angler. Two seasons worth of fishing...
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...lGrooving2.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...lGrooving1.jpg
I believe he was using fluorocarbon line.
I know fly anglers that have experienced grooving on Recoil and other wire guides. So, it isn't braided line that's hard on guides. If a soft fat fly line can groove a guide...I don't want to use that guide.
