Hi Gaia2011!!!
And welcome to this forum!!!!
I can tell you about my experience...
I order the hole system...add to that the rings and the airlock...oooo and the L's...if one day I will need it...
I tried the soft rings maybe twice...I didn't feel any difference with it...so I just don't use it...
About the airlock...It's connected all the time to my tubes....But again, I don't really use it much...I find it hard to connect the hand pump back to it...I also like to release a little air and pump again after a few minutes...so I don't use the airlock much offten...
I wish you all the luck with the NB!!!! It is a GREAT product!!!
Hope to see your progress here...
Good Luck!!! And don't forget to keep us all updated...