Usually the steel braided stuff is of a better quality, impervious to most fluids, looks nicer, lasts longer, (usually), and shows everyone that you spare no expense to make your stuff look nice!! Now as far as attaching to hose barbs,(a complete waste of good hose, IMO) there are collars that you put a hose clamp inside of and the screw part is the only part of the clamp that shows. They work ok, but to really gain the benefits of the braided hose you need to take out a loan/ 2nd mortage/ or come up with a bunch of cash and buy the correct fittings for the hoses you intend to use. This is the correct way. This way, will pay for it's self in longivity, which I've seen last for years and years. Hoses on the same boat for over 15 years and still going strong, (and NO they are not the ones used for fuel) mainly water lines. (The fuel were replaced a couple of years ago, just because they have fuel in them, and fuel does create fires). There are a few guys here on the boards that can hook you up with all the bling fittings in all sorts of bitchen colors, straights, angles, elbows etc. and the SS hose to go with them. Because of the expense, I suggest you plan your change over carefully and buy the right stuff the first time. You will also need the pipe thread to AN thread adaptors to complete the job, but they also come in bitchen colors. Gofastracer, and Superdave are 2 names that come to mind that stock and sell what you need, and I'm sure there are others here on the boards. I would not try to do it thru a retail outlet, cause they won't even kiss you as they screw you. I just replaced a #12 hose to f/male, elbow, 1 fitting, $34.00........so use the guys here for the deals..........MP