I’ve used both quick change and spinner swivels pal, without any issues, but nowadays I just use the korda spinner swivels as they’ve been designed for the job, no bending open the QC swivel to get the hook eye in! I use size 11 swivels for all my rigs, the smaller and less obtrusive the better!
I use Korda Boom and Krimp a loop in each end, if I need a softer section I use ESP Tungsten Loaded, Palamor knot to Ronnie side, Figure 8 for quick change swivel.
I’ve used both hooklinks with the spinner rig without any problem mate, I tend to attach it to the spinner swivel with a figure of eight loop and another loop at the other end of the boom for the quick change swivel. A grinner knot to the spinner swivel will be fine, but I personally prefer loops either end.
I just get a pot of pop ups from the shop currently using a Dynamite pineapple n banana had a few beeps also got a krill wafter on and a proper foam zig lol.
To be fair most pop ups on the market are designed not to be ingestied (its in the small print usually), technically they have probably detected the fact that your bait is attached to something eg. your rig before working out the bait has a cork ball in it.
Not tried them myself but if you want to give it a go get some clay balls from the garden centre they are super buoyant and have a texture that would help the bait grip tight, plus the carp could crush the clay if needed. never tried them but they will work in fact they could be fished bare loaded with attractants as they take on liquid.