A word of warning about using real handcuffs for all my friends In the community that enjoy this kind of play ... enjoy reading And this is why I have "proper" wrist restraints made of soft leather with buckle

As funny (and horrible) as the story is, you're absolutely right. I hate metal handcuffs for so many reasons and that is one of them. To continue the list, if you don't have double locking cuffs, they can unexpectedly tighten on you; Their small surface area is more likely to cut off circulation, damage nerves, bones, and tissues, and leave marks; and metal is way less forgiving than some nice rope or leather/polyester/rubber/leatherette cuffs.

...stick to high quality ones and you shouldn't have that problem.

If I am playing with new subjects I always use the soft & safe cuffs, but my ATF was handcuffed this a.m. because he is a VET

No question that high quality hand cuffs (spare key stored nearby, double locking etc) allow for the dramatic moment when you transform your free subject into a restrained helpless one with a single quick click; however I still prefer soft, wider leather cuffs secured with straps that can be easily secured to a collar or a slave belt or ankle or thigh restraints.  They are comfortable and safe but highly effective and allow for more varied positions of the sub (hands below the chin, secured at the sides, behind the back, fixed to ankles or thighs) and with the ability to change these positions quickly as the scene changes.