The reinforcing members are bonded into the neoprene over the full length of the belt, otherwise cutting the belt to length would result in a bad outcome…
So far as I have been able to determine from the manufacturers info, the issue with small radii for steel and fibreglass reinforcing members is the bend radius coupled with repeated flexing causing the reinforcements to fail at the flexing locations.
The belt clips are way below the bend radius any of the belts are meant to deal with when moving, but they’re stationary, so there is no repeated flexing to cause a wear failure. Whether a compression grip tensioner like the ones Neil Ferreri posted;
are a better way of gripping the belt and it’s internal reinforcement members I would like to know.