BTW, this is a vid I found awhile back using authentic banding techniques. With a breather you have to make sure no air is in teh bag, but other than that it should be the same:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s9IVtPnUHBE
The absolute bast way I have found is with a pellet. The snails will pile on, and then just scoop underneath them. But skinned cucumber, leafs have worked for me too.
+1 The bags are just not as easy to tie as the stretchy used to be. Lately I've been tying two knots. One above the other. That way in case water leaks through the first knot, the 2nd knot should hold any until it gets to the destination.
Probably to keep them from sticking together.
I hate rubber banding things. I may have to go that route eventually, but I'm fighting tooth and nail most of the way. I don't do change well sometimes. LOL
Real yellow rilis are very very rare. The yellow rilis on the market right now are poorly colored orange rilis. I'm working on trying to create a strain of them, but they have yet to breed so far. You may have better luck with yours.
Blue, I don't like long life for exactly the reasons you stated for the new Kordon. Both feel like poly to me.
I much preferred the latex feel Kordon used to have.