I also dropped using the large eye needle. I quilt w/ YLI thread - it's a glazed cotton and is stiffer, and I haven't had any problem threading it thru a regular needle. Once a needle bends, I pitch it. My preferred needle is from Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage. I do use a size 10 Betweens and I think they're sharper than the Roxanne's (which is too bad, because I bought a container of 50 of the Roxanne's)....
btw - I use a leather coin thimble that I get from Joann's. Never have mastered the metal thimbles.
And yes, I only get 2 or maybe 3 stitches on the needle, but that's ok