[perow1]

Pulling during a performance might not benefit the athlete that much, only for balance and such. Having support from the bottom or from lines may be a great advantage if you make a technical error. Still, allowing pulling during a performance brings an ugliness to the dive. I think the rule forces te athlete to focus on swimming not grabbing.

I can see the point with loosing a rule, that it is always a gain with little rules. On the other hand only allowing central lanes is adding a rule.