Both the posts above are good and accurate. It is really a good idea to tie a knot in the end of a free-hanging rappel rope, or to tie in the bottom end of the rope to a fixed anchor. I would have lost my life many years ago in a climbing accident on El Capitan (at night) ... but for the fact that my partner was smart and fixed the bottom end of the rope to a bolt anchor on the cliff face.

Prusik's - or better still ascenders - are really essential gear also. For any kind of complicated rappelling they are absolutely essential.

I'm not sure any of these precautions would work with 1-inch webbing. That's one reason why I want to try it out.

Pete