I would like some feedback from others on the necessity of having wear strips at the fore and aft hull.

I have built two stripers and did not plane to a 3/8 or 1/2 inch wide and then cover with a hardwood wear strip. Instead, I planed and sanded to about a 1/4" radius then I ran a 2" wide 10oz glass tape down the entire keel, feathered, then put on two layers 6oz glass. I must admit that the kayaks have taken quite a bit of abuse and need to be "touched up" especially at the aft end.

I personally like the look of narrower ends. I also kind of have the feeling that many people place this strip at the ends to "clean up" if the strips did not come out nicely at the ends.

Am I off base here?