The Cobra is a nice quick touch that doesn't interfere with anything I've noticed, and its interchangeable, I put it on my off side, but you can swap it, or buy a metal ring and go without

You're right about the cumberband, if I weren't loading it with plates, radio, or mags, I'd prefer their elastic one, but this one does have a little elastic

Shoulder padding with their strap sock is the perfect amount imo, very minimal, the plate bag also have the perfect amount imo, which is none, I do have muticurve plates, which could make the difference, but I prefer no padding, I don't feel it adds anything except airflow, but you need some thick pads for that to be the case and I want slick over thicc