I have used the wet sponge for decades.
My newer Weller came with the metal wool, which also works quite well.
Wet sponge on the ERSA 2000A and brass wool on the i-Con Pico but both seem to work pretty well. The brass wool does work best when soldering SMT components though.
Dave
Sponge works, brass wool works, a slight tap on the table gets off excess solder, and if nothing else is around, pop it into the side of a cardboard box real quick works also.
I have both, but so far always use a wet sponge. It seems less abrasive. My tips last years - I don't know how many hours.
brass wool fan here!
I chose wet sponge with tap water... but I know that metal wool is superior.... I am just cheap.
Sal Ammoniac mostly and (rarely) wet sponge with tap water, particularly when I'm not going to use the iron for a while. Occasionally brass wool.
dougw I discovered metal wool later in life and I've never looked back.
I prefer the brass wool. Doesn't cool the tip and removes the excess solder.