I seldom fit straps (of whatever material) to any of my watches - for one simple reason - it's very hard to get them off again without marking the watch lugs.

This is because the strap material sits flush with the lug all the way around. So you're battling with compressing the strap material to release the spring bar end. Some lug marks are virtually impossible to avoid.

Why don't all strap makers 'notch' away part of the underside of the strap to allow the spring bar tool to 'slide' the end inwards without the usual risk of putting pressure on the lug.

I know that some straps are like this. And I like the Hirsch (and probably others) method where there's a little lever to release one end of the spring bar.

Anyhow, it seems an obvious thing that all strap makers should be doing, and it's a cheap manufacturing shortcut when they don't.