Originally Posted by
mechBgon
Regular 32mm wrenches actually do work fine. I think Shimano's goal with the fluted wrenches was to create aluminum headset wrenches so they were light enough to carry on a tour, and the fluted shape was more resistant to damage. But that's just my speculation.
My guess is that the Shimano nut/wrench combination moves the nut-wrench interface away from the weak point (corner) of the nut enabling them to use softer (lighter) metals without risking a rounded nut. This observation is made just from seeing the parts in question.