>>5507646I had a few things mixed up. I only have the Takara one, so I was going on memory.
Anyway, the version with the thumb touching the fingers is stronger as the lone thumb can crack off the other.
The whole plug/flap thing is actually on the weaker one (I got that mixed up). As you can see here, there's a flap/plug/plate at the bottom of the hand that makes you unable to feed the handle all the way through. I have heard of people shaving off this part, not sure how much more fragile that would make it.
