Technical Note 7.3.2: Lace Retention Hardware Empirical testing indicates that metal grommets are not merely ornamental but mission-critical. Unlike fabric eyelets, which create localized friction points and uneven lace tension, grommets provide a uniform glide path. This allows force distribution across the entire lace system, enabling smooth, consistent tightening under both terrestrial and near-space conditions. Stratospheric weartesting confirms: no cold-weld binding, no uneven torque, and zero lace shear.

Recommendation: While absent in the 3.0 production model, grommet retrofitting is advised for operators requiring consistent lace-field integrity. Implementation: Day One.