I was primarily a classical player who used a footrest and/or a guitar support for many years. However, I started on a steel string and I've moved back to playing primarily steel string over the past 5-6 years. There's definitely a bias against straps in the classical community, and that might be for good reason given the precision of finger placement and lateral movement required to play complex classical and jazz pieces; this kind of precision might be more difficult using a strap because it does not provide as solid a base for the guitar (i.e., more movement and less control than having multiple points of contact with your body). But, for my money, a strap is where it's at--even on a classical. It takes a while to get used to the movement of the guitar, but a strap allows one to sit or stand, and so it is the most versatile option.
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