As for the damage to the trees:
Obviouly open wounds to the tree is considered a damage, what people tend to forget is that crushing the layer directly underneath the barch is equally as damagaing as making an open wound.
Consider a tree's "infrastructure" like a bundle of straws (you know. straws for drinking)
It is only the outer layer that is alive on a tree. This would then be a single layer of very thin straws.
If you crush or cut open part of this layer, the tree's response is to fill the underlying straws with toxins in the full length of those straws (basically a natural very strong fungicide) to prevent any infections developing, thus cutting of the damaged parts.
The living layer will then start to grow over the damaged parts, nomatter if those parts are open or still under the barch.
No question about it. Line bad, tape better.
EVen better is if you take some decent padding material with you. Could be a coffebean sack for each tying thats under strain.