Brian,

This is what I needed so I could get my mind going on this!

You asked: " Earlier, you were talking about how it's important to have deck lines that are elevated above the deck; now you want to leave them off entirely? I don't get it."

This is why I have asked here. I had always been looking at "flush" fittings as the "best". But I realized that they would not hold the lines in the "correct" position. Then I thought if the "best" fittings put the lines in a "poor" place for the intended use then something is WRONG with my thinking! And so begins another search:-)
I have read you mentioning your differnt approach:

"I prefer cord with sliding toggles for securing any important gear (spare paddle, etc)."

I read on another thread your talking about this, could you explain the "fittings" more?? "Cord" is shockcord? (1/4"?)

Like Jack Sanderson just wrote on the "Do I need to pull it apart" thread

"Interestingly my experience was that many of the things that seem crutial really are not and a few that seem unimportant really are. The trick is understanding the difference."

So much of this is out of my experience so I run into that a lot. Lack of expereince leave me just with "thinking" and sometimes I "miss the boat", ha, ha!! Thanks
Joe