# of Top plates?

[tompapa]

It's got to be weaker for sure with the strapping. You're only fastening at the pivot points of the 1x joint. That's why you can't use skip sheeting on the roof here in earthquake country. Has to be plywood.

The floor above or ceiling joists hold the wall in place prior to sheetrock. How in the world would you rock with those things on anyway? We brace the walls with 2x material, usually reject sixteens, but that comes off as soon as everything is sheared, well before rocking.

I don't know when they came up with that system you all use but it doesn't make sense to me. Extra work and material cost for no apparent benefit along with possible structural degradation. Oh well, to each their own I guess.