I dunno, I keep hearing the term "speed" in a lot of aspects of the hobby. When did it become such a race to efficiency? I've watched a couple videos on youtube from a group of MDers, a popular one. They use shovels. I've seen them flop a 12" plug over, and still missed their target, it's setting on the side of the hole they just dig
I will say, I'd guess there's less chance of a plug of grass dying, or being pulled-out when its that large. I think you need to keep in mind public perception. Sure, someone will be right along and say "well, if it's not against the law...blah, blah".
Think about Bill and Betty who live in a nice 1850 homestead across from the old park watching a guy with a shovel flopping large plugs of dirt over. They won't understand, but I will tell you what they'll say if that guy heads over to ask permission on their property.
I'm not knocking either way, I'm "not your supervisor"
, but if it takes you 30-60 seconds longer with a hand digger over a shovel, have you really lost anything? Have you stood to gain possibly (remember Bill and Betty)?
Much too has to do with how considerate the person detecting is, meaning how grateful he is for the permission he was granted. I use a drop cloth (18" square) on manicured lawns, and all the dirt stays on it, and it all goes back into the hole. I also make it a point to try and blend the plug back in best I can. If it's an irregular shape, put it back in the way it came out. The 3-sided flap method even better.
There's one place I will use a shovel, a field. Everyplace else is a hand digger. That's me, not wrong/right, just what I do/think.