Depends what effect you are seeking. It's true about termits and wood chips, but rocks can be a bare to spread and pine needles I don't like because of flipped butts.

I hate pine straw, I only use it on hillsides. I use pine bark mulch. We just had our house treated for termites so I don't worry about it.

Pinestraw is very poplular in my area. I replace it once a year when I'm feeling cheap. It looks great though when it's new.

We just got rid of the pine straw. I simply just hate the look. Instead we put in cedar mulch, which doesn't attract termites.