A plain leather strap for a day sporran does not (or should not) require one of those little "thingies" - the strap is fed straight through the loop on the back of the sporran. This system also makes it so much easier when the wearer needs to slide the sporran round to one side. We've all experienced such moments, I'm sure!

Dress sporrans usually do need them, however, since the chains have those little spring clips which connect with the "thingies's" D rings, although I really don't see why dress chains should not be fed through the loops as well. A bit too bulky maybe!