Quote Originally Posted by Graham
A pin is functional in a way, by providing a little weight to the front apron.
It is decorative and looks nice IMHO and adds, along with the sporran to the whole kilt look.

To reduced damage, I have one pin for each kilt, it stays on and is only removed when the kilt is cleaned.
The only other danger is getting the pin snagged and tearing the kilt, but that has never happened to me.

I don't wear a pin on my work kilts
Absolutely spot on, Graham. If there was only one rule that could ever be applied to the art of kilt wearing, it should be: a kilt pin for every kilt, and that it be removed ONLY when the kilt is being cleaned.

By the way, a useful tip to help avoid any kilt damage by the pin being seriously snagged (not that it has ever happened to me either): iron one of those small iron-on repair patches (I tend to use denim ones for added strength) on the back of the top apron, so that you fix your kilt pin through it as well as the wool. They are totally invisible from the front and really give the pin something to grip into, especially on lighter-weight fabrics.