I spent a while working for my friend in his canvas shop. I can say that there are plenty of good uses for velcro and depending upon conditions, it's can be a Godsend.
I think really a great deal depends on where you're
boating as far as this conversation goes. In the
Sea of Cortez, I'd recommend as light reflecting as you can get, and minimal velcro. Just the heat would cause the glue on the velcro glued to the tubes to be a problem.
Getting 10 years out of yours says quite a lot. 4-5 years in So
Cal sun will break down the thread used to sew it all together. Restitch it and go another 4-5 years and the canvas should be about toast. But I'm talking about 24/7 exposure.
All dingy chaps are a pain in my book. But if your need them, you need them. Just do what works for you.
I personally have spent way too much
money on what I thought I need because other people had one, so I must need one.
After all of that, a friend of mine has a white hypalon dink. I instantly noticed that a LIGHT GRAY piece of material on the same
boat was a GREAT DEAL hotter to touch than the white. He gets by with no chaps at all. My next
inflatable would be white if I could get the model I want that way.