Replying to Pole straps: yay or nay

I've heard that pole straps can be a hazard when skiing in avalanche terrain because they limit your ability to "swim" if caught in a slide. However, I'm wondering if removing the pole straps makes it more difficult on the uptrack since you lose the vertical support and loose grip offered by the straps. Obviously making sacrifices for the sake of safety is just part of the game, but I'm curious what the experts think about it.