There was a long-ish thread about this on the FGG forum a few months ago. I think the gist of it was that the italian method applies an assload more force than a chainwhip ever could and as such it's probably not a totaly unsafe thing to be doing. I get the sense that for the Rotofixa peeps it's as much a philosophical thing - sort of like the ultra-basic brass pipe bars - as it is a practical consideration, and that's fair enough as far as I'm concerned. Pick your battles, you know?

m.

EDIT: I found the thread on FGG.