I use bubble tea straws.
Easy to cut, only need half as many as wooden dowels, have the "power" of the hollow cylinder, don't slip out of position easily.
Rae
I used to use wood dowells and the last 3 or so cakes ive made i used boba tea straws and love them! I feel so much better using the straws and i havent gotten any buldges or anything!! although i have only used them on 2 tierd cakes. Not sure if they would hold up to the weight of a 3 or more tier cake.
Hey there. I have used straws for a 3 tier cake, and I'm making one at the end of the month that's a 4 tier. 12, 10, 8 & 6. I plan to stack at the venue so I'm not worried about them not holding. Add I have found them at Walmart and my local grocery store. The grocery store had them hanging in an isle and the package says "Milkshake Straws". They're just a really big straw. I've even heard of others using fast food place's straws because they are bigger.
Straws are definately the way to go 
As was said, easy to get, cut and place, along w/be *VERY!* strong.
The only time I would not use them would be for a very heavy cake recipe and over 14" tier. Most of the tiered cakes in my gallery were made using straws.
I have been known to walk in to McDonalds and grab a hand full of straws 
That was a few years back, and it was an emergency. Now I have a whole case of them, which I doubt I'll ever use all of them. I wonder how much it would cost to ship some?
I just used bubble tea straws ($1 for 50 Asian grocery store) for the first time with an 8"/10" cake. Worked well but I also just bought SPS.
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