Ceramic fiber doesn't "breath" very well at all and so is not used similarly to the old scrubpad method.  If any ceramic is loose, it will immediately clog air passage, so it has to be used in such a way that a more solid means of air passage must be established.  For this reason and the fact of ceramic's poor conductive properties (as evidenced by it's effectiveness as an insulator) it shouldn't be used in direct contact with spice.  With the Inspirator mkI, the ceramic had to be packed solidly with a well-formed hole through the middle; this will likely be revised with use of a thin metal tube to ensure proper air passage.  With the mkII, the ceramic is packed tightly into screens which form into a "cork" and only allows air to pass around rather than through.  In both cases the amount of ceramic is so small and is packed so solidly that the respiratory exposure is negligible at worst--no noticeable irritation of the throat or lungs.  However,the superwool would definitely be preferable to eliminate any potential risk.

One thing the works well when experimenting with gooier substances is to form steel screens into little scoops and scoop it up.  The screen can even be weighed beforehand so that after scooping, the amount can be determined.  This has been used specifically for experimentation with acetate resin produced from thoroughly drying in a dehydrator.

Edit: Details regarding an improved technique on second paragraph: Interesting DMT-carrier device. Modification of the machine-ball - Vaping/Smoking - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus