The attention to detail and finish is impressive on those Nepros tools. Do you find the chrome to be more resistant to marring than other tools? Also from what I understand, the ring on the sockets don't do the greatest job of providing grip. Does the grove for the ring provide grip on its own to remove sockets from drive tools without the black ring in place? Not sure how it would look or feel to simply remove the rubber rings, especially since oil getting between the ring and socket prevents it from being used to turn it.
I can put your mind at rest with regard to the durability of the chrome!
As most of us know here, this is something that varies considerably between differing qualities of tool. Cheap chrome looks good at first, but scratches easily, wears, and even rusts! Decent chrome, and I'm thinking Snap On here, lasts and lasts!
I havn't owned my Nepros tools as long as some, only a couple of years in fact, but early indications are that the chroming is up there with the best of 'em! and yes, it seems to be more resistant to marring than most tools. My Nepros wrenches have been fairly well used, and dropped, and so far have no marks! Impressive!
With regard to the rubber rings, I think you have to bear in mind that Nepros are trying to provide a tool suitable for all professional markets. Many pro customers require their tools to be colour coded for tool control purposes, and manufacturers supply tools with either painted grooves, or coloured rings ,when required.
As far as i can see, Nepros are simply offering this facility as standard (you can see the alternative coloured rings on the website) but it shouldn't be thought of as anything more than an identifier, and might as well be removed! As far as I can determine these rings serve no other purpose!