I find it all depends on the particular instrument. I play Fusion/Funk/Rock and i generally use very light E 90-95's (4 string) but my latest Marco Fender style Bass did not take well to 95's, the strings would bottom out when i got on them hard, even with the action highr, where as my Tomkins Fender style loved the light string with high action. After a few trial runs, i found the Marco likes 105's with medium height action best. I also have a Warwick Thumb, i put 95's on it, low action and i only have bottoming out issues at the upper register, so i will be raising the action until i find a good medium in upper and lower register.
I used to use SS strings and found that it took them a cpl weeks to sound right, too bright out of the box, Nickel sounds good within a day or two and still has enough high end sparkle. Im told its easier on your frets, you can def feel the difference on your fingers.
90 Elixer on the Tomkins P/J
95 Elixer on the Warwick Thumb
105 DR Sunbeam on the Marco P/J