hi mofm,
it can all be a bit confusing and what we say in a forum post can sometimes make things even more confusing even if meant well so reading up on these things is essential.
One thing you need to realize is that people live in very different climates and the media they use can help keep things moister or drier. Sometimes too moist, sometimes too dry. It's hard to find the right balance and even harder as climates change throughout the year.
One of the main reasons I like to create their own enclosed environment I can control instead of having a too dry environment which needs a very damp medium to keep the orchid hydrated which in turn can cause root rot.
To give you an understanding of the characteristics of clay pebbles have a look at this chart:
It shows that clay pebbles (hytdroton) can't hold much water compared to rockwool on the other end of the chart which holds the most water. This can be beneficial for growers who want a media that dries out fast. If you can water daily clay pebbles can be a good choice as their airyness prevents root rot. If you cannot water daily then clay pebbles are a risky choice unless they are wicking up water to help keep them moist if used on their own.
Otherwise they are great to add to mixes for aeration. I find every media has their advantages and disadvantages and usually mixing a bunch together in a ratio that suits you is ultimately the best mix
PS: Ray's website is 30 years outdated and needs more explaining about roots not sitting in water. Very unclear to a beginner grower looking at that
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