I do not agree, of course just different opinions, but would explain why I think almost 100 % of riders use a different setup, the setup used by custom shapers as well as big brands.
But firstly I am in doubt now, are we not talking about a board for waves Flyboy ?
As when you write "riding the fins" something just seems wrong, as fins on a waveboard is not for being ridden flat, but solely for surfing - size and position and everything.
So "riding the fins" ? Not so much, or not at all IMO.
The last many years there has been two totally different ways in terms of waveboards, the short narrow square plank versus the classic surfboard style.
I will only discuss the classic ones here, both types are awesome but extremely different.
Getting over the centerline - well, when riding upwind I slide my foot out so it is quite diagonal and to windward (boards ARE wider today than just a few years back).
But can not ride waves well if it is left there, not even if rear foot to leeward.
Also, if the front strap is set up too tight (it happens), so my foot is more windward - riding waves does not work well at all.
Board will become bouncy in bottom turns, the smooth driving "inward" feel will be lost, simply not balanced as it should.
No, it is not because they origin from TTs, the two straps.
Most brands has been around raceboards too, always three or even four straps.
Today they all make hydrofoils instead, and these are also three straps the majority of them, also freeride (as here you dont have to be over the center because you dont use the edges when riding waves) .
A few still prefer 2 straps here though, as so used to this from waveboards, so gives the best feel for some, personal likings.
Regarding strap position - IMO the front position on a waveboard is the most important whatsoever, it is the power center and the full driving point everything happens around.
Meaning, you can NOT just stand further forward with your front and further rear with your back foot, or further rear with your front and more forward with your rear foot.
Both will be wrong - in the first scenario you will get this wrong feeling of not being balanced, having to tug the front strap with toes, feeling like you wobble around the rocker line instead of a firm stance and smooth ride.
In the second scenario, you will lose glide hugely when on the wave, apart from not being able to push sufficiently with your rear foot when hitting hard.
Brands are actually offering a huge range of boards, most or all of them adapted to the what many will call "shitty" conditions most of us got.
So they are bigger or wider or less rockered etc etc - hardly and real waveboards left.
Which is fine, as so few got these conditions.
So disagree - I see a wide palette offered by most, and sometimes difficult to find a good full-on waveboard, which is fine, as almost none of us got such perfect conditions anyways.
I believe, and can see, that brands are offereing what most of us users want - it is as simple as that, and has been for years
It is fine to be different and have a different liking - but I honestly see they make the very boards we like the most, as kitesurfers, and nothing but that.
It is their only way of surviving, which is great for us
But above is not the topic - topic was about which directional footstraps we like and dont like, so lets get back to this please.
Peter