I don't hook in till I'm in the straps... Always bang my toes otherwise
Does that mean you don't unhook until you're out of the straps? Yikes!
Watch out for that unexpected gust to send you flying over the handle bars.
I'm in and out of the straps quite often w/o unhooking, you need happy feet to get you thru lulls, as well as leverage (strapped in) to help prevent getting launched by that gust that came out of nowhere.
I hook in right when I get planning, my feet take care of themselves, what ever is needed, it's different every time, I usually unhook at the same time I step off the board onto the beach.
On RB I hook in straight away, well before board is planing or straps needed. Shortboard i dont hook in til im planing ( but im new to shortboardin) then straps once speed built up.