It looks like the original owner put the rings there so different suspension systems could be easily switched out. You can use whoopie slings, you can use daisy chain, you can use webbing, you can carabiner climbing hexes and stoppers or friends. Just attach the what you want to try to the rings. I put rings on all my hammocks just for that purpose (and they provide a water break). So no need to cut anything.
Again, snakeskins are primarily used on tarps. They come as one long - 12 ft or so - skin that starts at one end and is pulled to the other end. Or they come in a pair, each about 6 ft long. Each is pulled from the end and they meet in the middle. If you have two complete sets of snake skins, save the second for your second tarp. “What second tarp?” you may ask. Don’t worry, you’ll understand later.
So the hammock is usually carried in a double ended stuff sack - or just a stuff sack. I’m not saying you can’t put your hammock in a skin. But you are correct that you’d probably have to remove those rings. Just use a stiff sack for the hammock and keep the snake skins for tarps.
Back to hammock suspension - some people love whoopie slings. Some people put up with them because they are going for minimum weight. Note the new fabrics for webbing and daisy chain are now on the market taking away some of that weight advantage. And understand it is all pros AND cons. For example, if you use a whoopie sling, your trees will probably have to be further apart than if you use something else. That makes your universe of candidate trees smaller. If is raining and cold you may not like to fiddle with the bury of the whoopie sling.
Some people love them - that’s fine. We can all share a beer (separate beers of course) at the same table. I’m just saying there are other, perhaps simpler, ways to suspend your hammock and those rings allow you to easily switch out one system for another.
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