Vine swinging (and energy, and chain)

I have almost enough Q finally to pick up Vine Swinging, a character for whom it would make more sense than a steel cable, and no compelling reason to spend it on anything else.

Does it have the same metallic sound as the default swinging skin?

I assume it still can't be tinted.

Do others think it's worth spending the Q on (given that I'm not grinding it, and have never spent any Q) or is there some gear I should be getting instead (given that usually once I hit 40 I just start playing other characters) or just sell my Q?

Thanks.