Aerospace Engineer here. In my industry, hand-tied harnesses are commonplace at every level, from homemade garage-built aircraft, throughout all current commercial aircraft, and extending to the Mars Rover. It’s also commonplace in better racecar and motorcycle wire harness builds. I will frequently use cable ties to temporarily assemble a harness, then hand tie the final configuration and cut off the cable ties.

Also, I guarantee you there is no better tool for flush-cutting cables ties so you don’t get scratched by em than the IGAN-P6 side cutters sold on Amazon for around seven dollars. I bypass my Snap-On cutters and grab them every time.

If I am really, really forced to use a cable tie I prefer Cobra Ties, which have a low-profile head that keeps the tail parallel to the band, rather than protruding at a 90 degree angle.

https://www.cobraties.com/collections/cobra%C2%AE-low-profil...