I am reading that textured implants are harder, less natural feeling, more likely to deflate and ripple?!

Your question can provoke controversy amongst plastic surgeons.  There is no "best" implant.  I use smooth and textured (round) implants for various aspects of my practice. Rippling is related to multiple factors, including the thickness of the tissues over the implant   I do want to note that the incidence of breast implant associated cancer (ALCL) is significantly higher in textured implants, although generally uncommon.  Either way, you can't go wrong with your choice.

That's a very good question. It's interesting, that in the rest of the world except the United States a textured and mostly shaped implants are the preference. It's only in the United States, that there is a high use of round smooth silicone gel implants. The advantage of texturing is that it does promote some frictional resistance to migration and with some of the textured surfaces actually allow for integration of the scar tissue to the implant disallowing any movement at all. This may be preferential in cases where the implant is shaped such that it would not rotate. Some of the manufacturers shells are thicker when textured as the textured surface is laminated on to a smooth walled implant. This makes an implant shell that is more unyielding and therefore stiffer. It's also more likely to wrinkle and to break. In today's mostly sub muscular implant placements there's a very small, if any, advantage to less capsular contracture with textured implants over their smooth walled counterparts. If you have a lot of overlying breast tissue and an increased risk of capsular contracture like smoking, that would make sense to use a textured implant because it's unlikely through that much breast tissue that you could feel the difference between that and smooth. On the other hand, if you're very thin, and want the softest, less wrinkled appearance,than a smooth walled device may be preferable. Like I said before, all shaped implants are textured to prevent rotation. Here, there is no wrong answer and most surgeons will have their own opinion on what works best in your hands. Good luck with your decision and surgery.