Kalkriese seg reconstruction?

[M. Demetrius]

What if the buckle and strap were the first method, replaced by the loops and ties for the very reasons you have suggested? The plain leather strap (unless that was a field repair in the first place) found on the plate might have been replaced with the brass-reinforced one for the same reason.

Just more speculation. Until one is dug up somewhere, we can't say for sure, right? So one speculation is as good as another, within reason.