In preparation for making my own I've been looking at a few paddle strops and a fair number of them have slots, generally two, cut into the sides which supposedly give it some flex and make it feel a bit more like a hanging strop. Does it really make much of a difference? I see enough with the slots, both vintage and new, which makes me think there must be something to it, but on it's own I guess I find it difficult to believe those slots would be all that noticeable. Anyone with some experience or thoughts on this?