Don't be in such a tearing rush to change everything.
Because two forces(three really) keep you in place using an anchor.
One is a horizontal pull on the anchor, which needs this to stay dug in and even seek to dig in deeper. Since your boat will always be above the anchor, something heavy like chain is the most efficient at turning your boat's angled pull into a horizontal one in the shortest distance.
Two, the combined weight of ALL your ground tackle (another "NEW" expression for you!), anchor and chain, is a very important factor in holding you safe apart from the actual grip of the anchor itself.
And the Third, not to be overlooked, is the actual friction between chain and seabed. Try pulling your anchor chain across the surface of the laying-up hard single handed and compare this to pulling a rope and you'll see what I mean.
Rope rodes can also be a menace to others since you need a far bigger swinging circle and it often catches the unwary who don't notice your "odd-one-out" approach until it's too late and they've got you around their prop. A chain will hang straight down in a near calm but a rope can still be lying out for quite a distance dangerously, just below the surface.
As to "Shock protection", the chain by it's very nature lies in an extendible, geometric curve called a "catenary" which acts like a spring and is fine for most situations, however a short length of rope can be introduced, to prevent chain "growl" or excessive snatching in extreme conditions being transferred to the boat, with one of these
or by just threading a couple of metres of rope from a foredeck cleat, through the chain and back to the cleat and letting the chain hang slack between it and the bow roller.
Because two forces(three really) keep you in place using an anchor.
One is a horizontal pull on the anchor, which needs this to stay dug in and even seek to dig in deeper. Since your boat will always be above the anchor, something heavy like chain is the most efficient at turning your boat's angled pull into a horizontal one in the shortest distance.
Two, the combined weight of ALL your ground tackle (another "NEW" expression for you!), anchor and chain, is a very important factor in holding you safe apart from the actual grip of the anchor itself.
And the Third, not to be overlooked, is the actual friction between chain and seabed. Try pulling your anchor chain across the surface of the laying-up hard single handed and compare this to pulling a rope and you'll see what I mean.
Rope rodes can also be a menace to others since you need a far bigger swinging circle and it often catches the unwary who don't notice your "odd-one-out" approach until it's too late and they've got you around their prop. A chain will hang straight down in a near calm but a rope can still be lying out for quite a distance dangerously, just below the surface.
As to "Shock protection", the chain by it's very nature lies in an extendible, geometric curve called a "catenary" which acts like a spring and is fine for most situations, however a short length of rope can be introduced, to prevent chain "growl" or excessive snatching in extreme conditions being transferred to the boat, with one of these
or by just threading a couple of metres of rope from a foredeck cleat, through the chain and back to the cleat and letting the chain hang slack between it and the bow roller.
I'm not, honest! Just trying to make sure everything is done properly which is difficult with no idea about anything!
Certainly going to do that, I think it will be the fastest way to learn
Thanks very much John, very good of you. Will get the measurements at the weekend
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Just some thoughts for you:
On a boat nothing is quite good enough
There is no point in being a big rush to learn everything, you never will
There is always another way to do anything on a boat
If no one got hurt and you did not break anything you did not do it wrong, although you can always do it better
When it comes to learning, asking here is a great way to start. As you can tell you get lots of opinions. Reading books & magazines also has many benefits. Instruction is another good way to learn, but remember its not definitive and there are other ways (look at threads and opinions about lassoing buoys
Take your time and enjoy...
They didn't notice, might have been few days before they decided to raise the hook...
Knowing dangers beforehand makes for great explorer - the one that comes back 
GOOD BOY
All you need to do now is ask "which anchor should I use"
p.s. on a light displacement trimaran I use 10m chain & nylon, east coast.
I put depth x wind force down, never had a problem, yet ....
You should definitely change your rode and take the advice of whatever weird publication you have read.
If not you risk being in the very vast majority of boats in this country that have all chain rodes.
Not sure what your boat is, but assuming it is a normal cruising boat I have never met anyone who does not have all chain. Yes, have some extra warp for ununsual conditions, but in this country chain is the rode of choice.
Yup, on cat. Lightweight. I like nylon rode personally, but everything depends on boat really, lighter boat exerts more jerks on rode, but then with less force. Wide bows can be lifted more then sharp. Etc. That is why I advise both approaches if it is possible on boat, as space and displacement may be an argument.