Soft Bits

What a niche topic, but here goes...



I like having soft bits on my pipes... the kind that every store sells... partly for comfort, partly for protection. But what I don't get is, why the thick collar? When I put them on a stem, flush with the tip of the bit, the tip of the bit is so darned thick. I have gone to trimming the thick collar off, but then the soft bit is kinda short.



Anybody use any alternatives? Would be nice to just get this in a tube and trim the length I want.



Dave