I think the most important aspect is that all the striker pneumatics
behave identically, i.e., for any applied vacuum each pneumatic
develops the same force.  Reduced force due to stiffness of the hinge
and pneumatic cloth will not affect the system performance as long as
all pneumatics behave the same.

A good ruler attached to a U-tube water gage manometer should measure
vacuum to better than 1 mm, or 0.040 inch, accuracy.

Robbie Rhodes
Etiwanda, Californa