as long as it's not too tight, it should be fine. i like the lizard skin better cause you don't have to take the fork off to put it on. the inner tube only saves you $3 assuming you have a punctured mtn tube laying around.

right now i'm using a shimano STX cartridge headset and the bottom cartridge isn't looking so hot after about 5 months of hard use. can't you get replacement cartridges for most headsets?

btw, i just put the lizard skin on a week ago, hopefully this will extend the headset life. after the last tour da chicago stage i pulled a glob of sand off the lizard skin the size of my thumb.