Hi,
You can use any 1 inch plate with it. I just couldn't justify paying for shipping for their colorful plates. I use the ones I own. Although they have cute ones.
I think the different grips would make things more comfortable for certain exercises but the main purpose is to give you different grip options to hit the muscles from different angles.
I was watching bodyrocktv.com and I was drooling over her pink equipment. I couldn't get the pink equalizer ( own a yellow version ) but I had to get the T-Grip. That sandbag looks cute too.
If I had a home gym, I would get the proper T-Grip olympic ones but I only have a few KB and a rope and step and mismatched dbs and a Firm BB ( yup...back in the day )an EZ curl bar and an olympic bar.
Don't ask me how much I can lift because you will laugh.