Questioning whether a harness is actually better than collar for flat-faced breeds like pugs and frenchies – what’s your experience?

Hello, fellow dog lovers. Over a year ago, I welcomed my first pug into my life (and my first dog ever), and I’ve always used a harness after seeing overwhelming info here and elsewhere recommending it over a collar given the pug’s anatomy, delicate throat, ect. Makes total sense to me, so I've never considered moving away from a harness nor have I seen any reason to second guess the claims that harness > collar for pugs…

As such, I was intrigued to read in The Pug Handbook that author, Brenda Belmonte, considers it a “mistaken belief” that Pugs are too sensitive in the throat area to walk with a collar. Instead, she actually recommends collars because they are a better way to communicate with your pug on walks. Here’s the quote from the book:

• “A large number of Pugs are often seen walking their owners. Many of these Pugs share a common accessory— they are all seen wearing a harness. A traditional harness is an excellent alternative to a collar for any Pug that has a medical problem involving the neck, spine, or throat, but should not be substituted for a collar. There is a mistaken belief among Pug owners that the Pug is too sensitive in the neck and throat area to be safely walked with a collar and leash…Unless it is a no-pull harness your Pug will be able to pull you effortlessly during a walk, while leaving you with no real way to say, ‘Hello, remember me back here?’ Collars are better tools than traditional harnesses to give you a way to communicate with your pug.”

While I’m in no rush to move away from a harness and also question if the juice is even worth the squeeze (my pug tends to pull on walks but not a major issue), I’m curious if there are any pug owners or similar flat-faced breed owners here that can add more color or nuance to this take above.

Those with experience using both collars and harnesses for pugs/similar breeds, have you noticed any, if at all, meaningful differences in how you communicate with your dog on walks, or observed changes in their breathing?

Also, a “no-pull harness” is new to me. It sounds like it might offer a nice middle ground between a collar and a traditional harness, but I’m curious about its security and whether it’s any easier for a pug to slip out of.