Where can I get a good reed case? I still have my cheap plastic one from my beginning band years. I hear that wooden or leather ones are better. Is that true?

yes. most important think is reed must dry in the case,so case must be wooden!!!. Leather is just on top of the wood walls,so there is no such a think really like leather case.I would never go for metal or plastic case pretty much for the same reason-they all keep moister inside of the reeds.
hope this helps

Material of the case doesn`t matter too much. You should be worried about how well ventilated the case is. You want the water to evaporate and escape the case as quickly as possible or you run the risk of mold or other nasties growing on your reed.

Here are some interesting cases:
http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgi-bin/theo?action=category&main_category=Reed%20Cases&sub_category=Reed%20Cases%20for%20Oboe%20and%20English%20Horn%20by%20Charles

You can also find a lot of custom reed cases on Ebay.

I would recommend cases with springs.Püchner makes some realy nice ones. A cheaper alternative is http://synonym.dk/mall/images/varer/325350.JPG, the web address is www.gottfried.dk. Those cases do not have the high finish of the Püchner cases, but perform quite well

Thomas

What is the benefit of springs to hold a reed in place versus mandrels or tight fitting grooves?

Versus mandrels, springs expand and hold all reeds, no matter what. Grooves tend to get worn over time. Some grroves may be too tight to accomodate certain reeds. A spring case can also hold cor anglais reeds at the same time, no need for a different box.