Hood Pins?
 

why is it that every other CF hood i see has hood pins? at first i thought it was just for show, but maybe not? can someone let me know what these are for other than flopping around?

Most CF hoods come with and/or are recommended to use hood pins.

Remember when Mazda recalled all the MazdaSpeed CF hoods.............if you don't just search.

weel if they have large front mount it requires the removal of the hood latch to fit no hood latch = hood pins

i really wasn't too psyched about drilling holes in my brand new $1300 hood, so it definitely isn't just for show! if you have ever seen a low budget carbon fiber hood, you can see that the hood 'hooks' are very minimal, and barely catch the latch. ive heard many stories of people buying $400 hoods, and having their hoods fly up on them on the highway. it's more of a precaution. with scooped hood, the wind travels at high speeds through the tunnels and can create lift from under the hood. If your latch isn't properly secure, your hood can fly up to your windshield, and block your view.

like JWteknix said, i have a FMIC, and my hood 'hook' cant fully reach my latch, but can be somewhat secured in the first hooking notch; not the full locking notch (if that makes any sense- forgive me for lack of proper names.) i have hood pins placed where my hood rubber stoppers would have otherwise been.

they're easy to unlatch, cost very little; and are pretty simple to install. if it saves your hood, and worse case scenario your car, i would definitely pick up a set for your aftermarket hood (FG or CF.)

note* they dont flop around. they sit securely on the hood and dont move unless they are lifted up and pulled out. well, that's how my sparco hood pins are anyway. so i dont fully understand what you mean by "flopping around"? maybe it's a California thing to leave it unlatched :).