weight not an issue (plugs save 10g per wheel!), take all sorts of bits and bobs plus me out and about – but a quick look in the spares box and no rim tape for some new 700c wheels for use on road – so i’m crap at getting rim tape to sit nice and then get worried in case replace inner tube and have pushed rim tape across so ……plugs ? any downside, other than not being traditional?

I use them and no down sides apart from cost. Getting rim tape to sit properly is easy thogh just get the right width.

More faff to fit. But I guess that depends how much faff you find rim tape.