Quoted from WJxxxx:Because the over-ear or tie back ones are able to be taken off and put on maintaining the sterile field. The mask you describe could not.
Also once on a mask should not be touched - so pulling the mask down temporarily should never be a thing.
More often than not, there's a reason the way things are designed and don't need 'improving' on, thus defeating the object of them in the first place.
This isn't really the place for an extended discussion on this topic, but yes the mask I describe can be taken off in just as sterile a way as an ear mask. When I want to remove the mask, I only touch the elastic band on the back of my head. And I put it on the same way, only touching the elastic. How do you remove an ear mask? By touching the elastic behind your ear. No different than my type of mask, and in fact an ear mask has your hand closer to your face than mine does for removal.
Masks are taken down in people's cars between stores, or for any number of reasons. Are you suggesting someone put on their mask for a shopping trip, and never remove it, even while driving? I agree it's less sterile, but if people hand sanitize and avoid touching the fabric of their mask, then the risk is minimal. The only downside with the type of mask I use, is that is requires more elastic. And the upside is that it's more comfortable to wear. But go ahead, have your ears pulled all you want, just don't pretend that you're superior for using that type of mask.
Sadly, this is the only picture that I have of myself in a mask, and you can't see the straps, but the straps of my mask are placed in exactly the same spot as the N95 mask pictured below it.
mask (resized).jpgcoronavirus-3m-masks-n95-222d669aa944bef30fa86aec23b3198a0d2f589f (resized).jpg