Have asked on the Facebook page, adding that the straps distract from it working as a standalone model. They've answered "I agree that the straps can potentially disrupt a standalone dragon. However, keep watching the campaign and see what you think about the dragon upgrades as they unfold".
To my mind, not the best use of stretch goals. If a strapless dragon becomes an option at some point I can't help but reckon it would have been wiser to put that out there up front than as an option from a stretch goal, for the simple reason that an adorned dragon doesn't motivate me to pledge where an unadorned one would. Similarly with alternate arms on the demons, one or two clawed ones on the spider demon as up front options could have generated a pledge from 'Neshi fans unsure of that or the purely clawed demon.
Will still watch to see what comes of the options though. The minis are too good and at those KS prices it'd be daft to ignore 'em.