A downgrade from 255 -- Why was Quick Release removed?

Just use a knife blade to release the pin, its a simple job. You don't need a separate tool.

Save money to make them money and move people to more £ epix/fenix

Artificially engineered model differentiators

There’s no release pin in the band that came with my 955. I have to use a knife to remove the band that came with the watch. 

That's just damn weird!  I assumed there was one as my 255 original band had it.

So 255 > 955 in this regard. OP edited.

The fr 945, 955, 965 have never had quick fit or quick release bands while the 245,255 do have qr.  What I heard years ago is there was a concern that with QR on the larger fr9xx devices, it wouldn't be as secure.  Quick Fit might be better and that's what you see on the fenix devices.

It's a pity. I use different Quickfit bands based on the occasion (e.g. leather for non-sport use). However, I really like the look and feel of the original band, it's a pity it didn't come with Quickfit and cannot be purchased as Quickfit version.
Same with the FR935 that I previously had. When I sold it, I could include a perfectly new strap for the same reason.