That's what I thought. I expect my Nova to require repairs in other places before these areas require any attention, however, I did not really consider the flexibility issue when ordering. These reinforcements were so cheap that I thought 'why not' for peace of mind. My harness is very stiff compared to some others I've seen and I want 500 rec dives out of this suit.
I must say that I had not a single thought about flexibility issues when trying the suit on or diving it, so anyone considering these options should not be under the impression that it is that big of a deal either.
Since the Nova fabric is not breathable anyway, and the back and shoulder patches are in places that remain fairly static during a dive, I'd still recommend it if you want the suit to be just that bit tougher. I see it as a nice middle path between those plastic bag type suits and the full on cave cordura heavyweights.
I also think the kevlar knee pads are great. There's this one dive spot where the entry is via a rock ledge, and when the tide hits it right, kneeling on it is really the best way to wait in line to get out and take fins off. With these knee pads it feels like you can do this daily for a decade, but with bare knees I'd be worried. I'd go for them unless you do 100% boat diving where you'd never touch anything with your knees.
