IronWolf,
6010, 7018 and 11018 are my rod choices for steel repairs. I use the 11018 on the T-1 steels i.e. truck and trailer frames. It is just as easy to run as 7018, but formulated for the high strength steels. The first rod I learned on was 6010. You're right, it is a hard one to master, but if you can, you can run almost any other rod. Lincoln 5p+ and excalibur are what I buy. My Airgas rep gave me some buhler lo-hi to try. They restart a little easier than the excalibur rods do. I had a guy tell me to whip the cherry off the end of the 7018 as soon as you break the arc, this really makes restarts easier.
For aluminum, I use Harris Alloy 26 rods. They take some getting used to, but are limited to thinner sections.
I'd have to look at the hardfacing, cast iron, stainless and other rods I use before I put any numbers out there.
I also use wire for steels, stainless and aluminum welding, mostly lincoln made products.
Equipment list includes, 1965 red face sa-200 pipeline welder, a really old AC lincwelder 180 stick machine, an sp 175+ lincoln wire welder with 75/25 argon/co2 blend and a Hobart RC 256 welder with a Hobart 17 wire feeder. As soon as I get it back from the repair shop, it will be used for spray transfer .045" wire with 92/8 blend gas.
Chris