I think bonnet straps are another hidious paint damaging unnecessary addition that cause paint damage. Just like running board treads and those wing mounted small side lights, all unnecessary bells and whistles that cause corrosion
OTOH I quite like bonnet straps - but the way I see it, they are like eared wheel spinners. Invented by racers to stop bonnets popping open under bumpy racing conditions (or to make it easier to be whacked with a hammer when needing to change wheels fast in the case of spinners).
A product of a time when cars were used hard and function took precedence over form. Worrying about a bit of paint kind of misses the point, I feel.
