I love Roxanne needles! For me personally, not a John James fan. I use Roxanne #11's usually. Sometimes 10's and sometime 12's (but those eyes are a killer in more ways than one!) I generally use Guterman hand quilting thread and on the 10's & 11's have no issues threading the needles without a threader. For thicker thread/or the #12 needles you definitely need a Roxanne threader. The wire on other threaders is too thick to get through the eye of a #12 Roxanne.
I like them because they do not bend easily; thread easily; readily available at reasonable cost from Colonial Needle. Colonial Needle also has good customer service in my experience.
I hand quilt almost exclusively. Regular quilting cottons; batiks; flannel. Use W&N batting. Have no issues with the Roxanne needles on any of these materials.
I've tried JJ; Clover and a few others. Roxanne's for me.