Mitch
I recently went thru this transition. Even considered fixed gear, but I would have to get Bolly swept gear to keep the wheels from being too far forward (expensive and god bit of work involved)
I have a JR Explorer with what I beleive to be Great Planes mechanical retracts with 5/32 music wire.
I replaced them with the 3/16 titanium struts from Central.(still expensive but just ran a 3/16 drill bit through the mount & dropped them in)
Made all the difference. They are not only stronger but lighter than the original struts.
This past Saturday I made a rather hard landing in the wind - it would've bent the original wire badly. The titanium struts flexed quite a bit, but there was no damage & nothing bent. Eureka !!

Eddie