To me anything that does not add excessive weight, weaken the basic structure or distract from the basic lines of the gruppo are legitimate and race worthy. I too have seen some 50th anniversary gruppos beaten nearly into the ground and they still retain their original attractiveness and most of their functionality. Saying that this kind of thing shouldn't be done to the standard gruppo is like saying that a great athlete should not put on makeup, or have their hair done.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl USA