RE: recovering a plane?
On a serious note. I have recovered both ways. The wing is not to bad to cover hinged. The tail feathers are a pain. When I did it I left the old covering in the hinge lines about 1/4" out. Then stuck the new right up to the hinge line. This worked and the job looks nice. It's just that it took twice as long as it would have taken to cut them off and rehinge them.
David