I agree about not liking stuff hanging off by bag strap - they get caught, tangled, in the way - I dont even like a Buckle on the front! My straps themselves are 'laced' together just over my back shoulder (extra holes I can shorten or lengthen as desired).
For the pan brush and pick; I cant stand the Chain either! Gets tangled and kinked so easily, I had had a few break and lost either brush or pick before I DUMPED THE CHAIN altogether!
Today I have a hand made Moose Hair brush I made, handle is hand wrapped and sewn buckskin with ends sealed in beeswax. My vent pick is a horseshoe nail filled on the tip to fit all my pistols, rifles, and blunderbuss (not my Percussion as I have a thin beaded wire for those) and instead of chain they are tied to a length of buckskin lace.
I keep it threaded through the strap so it can 'Yo-Yo' either way then dropped back into the bag.
Light weight, strong, quite and no more tangles!