When I was learning to climb back in the mid 70s one of the old timer Linemen, a construction guy who found a home at the City and could be on the pole all day long, showed me to put the lower strap of the climber around your ankle inside of the shank.
It gives your ankle more mobility and to me it feels like it moves more natural and you can rotate your feet around easier to get some blood back in them.
And no, your foot will not come out of the climber.
I tried the ankle wrap a few times always preferred being "strapped in" it provided a lot more stability for my style of climbing. I did a lot of "drop stepping" and stepping pole to pole on transfers so I guess I just like the extra security. All that being said, with those styles of climbing are mostly dead now that WPFR is the new normal. I imagine that the ankle wrap would be far more popular now but less taught/shown. Excellent food for thought Byron!
Work Safely,
L.A. Martin
Journeyman/Retired
Electric System Operator
CVEC
There's no such thing as "The End Of The Line!"
If you think you are worth what you know, you are very wrong. Your knowledge today does not have much value beyond a couple of years. Your value is what you can learn and how easily you can adapt to the changes this profession brings so often. -- Jose M. Aguilar