Ha ha I've decided to hold off on that for the time being, I didn't realize until earlier today that masterlink installation pliers could be bought for so incredibly cheap. So I'll go with that for the time being now that I can get my KMC masterlink on and off easily.

I thought the pliers were going to be up around the price of a Connex Link, in which case I would have preferred to opt for the Connex Link, given a choice between the two.

After comparing the amount of chain stretch on my current KMC chain with the numbers quoted on a Park Tool video, it seems my KMC chain is already stretched too much for recommended use. It hasn't seen many miles either. Perhaps my mistake was procrastinating on dealing with the factory lube for the couple of hundred miles after getting the bike.

I think my next chain might just be a Wipperman's with accompanying Connex Quick Link. A bit more money, but I hear their chains have very good longevity, and I have actually heard one or two other people reporting they only got a few hundred miles out of their KMC chains, not much more than I've got with a little better care.