I have been making welly socks, so they are knee-length, but I also have a pair of short thin socks on first, so maybe that's why these are lasting ok.
As for the heel - did you ever check The Crochet Crowd out on youtube? Mikey's way doesn't create such big holes on the turns.
Mikey has done the vids for sock making here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv ... ion_479442
He has made a full complete video, then he chopped it up into individual row steps & is very easy to follow. Oh he's a superstar!
And aren't long looms great? I have the bed cover on the round orange loom, but have found that even the long looms can be used the same way & have made a 2nd 'handy' (think fingerless mitt) this morning while doing everything else - superwoman day for me
