Bizarre
Hello,
What they've done is a bizarrely upset Single Sheet Bend. Without intact stitching, the whole thing would come apart; with intact stitching the knot serves to keep the sling ends from pulling sideways on the stitches. You are right, it is not an appropriate arrangement, nor a durable one. What Lifesling appears to be counting on is that their product will not require much if any use.
As for alternatives, a Brummeled Spectra fork would not require a knot, and be much stronger. Spectra would still float. A better grade of Polypropylene, of the same configuration, would also be fine.
Meanwhile there are a lot of Lifeslings out there with this arrangement. Sooner or later, one of them will fail (if it hasn't happened already). Rescue equipment should be better than this.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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