Nothing wrong with shakles except that using HM line can save miniscule amounts of weight (that can add up), probably costs a little less, requires skills and most importantly (as Tami used to say) and it sure looks cool!

I am simply looking for excuses to use splices as i have now purchased 3 different sets (or types) of fids... (for the cost of about 50 shackles)

PS the Brion Toss Fid (about $75) works almost the same exact way as Pepin's wire except it has a 1mm loop of dyneema to "grab" the tail and pull it through (instead of pushing like a Sampson/Selma fid does) for the bury