Does it really need a cover? I began stripping mine tonight, as well as putting an eye splice in the end. I'm going to lock-stitch this thing for 4-5", but I'm still wondering if it will hold under all that load (cranked in mainsheet)

The more I handle and look at it, I'm wondering why do I really need a cover on it in the first place???

Anyone sail without a cover on their mainsheet?