Mats compress and give the sole a second chance. Clay does not. That is the whole essay, but people still argue.
We keep a comparison on purpose: two swings, two surfaces, one liar. The photo that embarrasses the mat is the one we keep.
If your last appointment happened entirely on carpet, the bruise you were sold is a rumor. Bring that rumor. We will not be polite to it.
This is why the pit kept steel from the surveyors. Steel plus a clay tray is uglier than a glossy bay and harder to lie on.