I've always used master links until a few weeks ago when I just converted to SS. I had a pro do a once over and he said he doesn't lie master links because of the safety. He measured the chain to length and pressed a pin back into it. No harm done to the links. Isn't that a common practice?
Many people on this forum are leaps and bounds more educated than myself on the subject. My apologies if I left an answer that was detrimental.