The chain is instant response. A new strap would be too. Old straps stretch and tear where they are attached. Fixing a strap drive is anywhere and anything sometimes with material you already have.

If you step your pedal,...get a chain drive. if you don`t, get a strap or chain.

I greatly prefer the feel of a strap drive and besides buying dedicated strap drive pedals have even switched a couple of DW chain drive pedals over to strap drive. I think it has much more to do with the shape of the cam used than the actual material doing the pulling. Having said that, I would not use a leather strap that can stretch or dry out in this day and age. Nylon weave belting is tough, flexible, and works as well or better and so far I have never broken a nylon strap or even stretched one as far as I can tell. I don't mind chain drives and have several (the Tama/Camco is a favorite of mine) but when I use a strap everything just feels better.

What strap/nylon pedal do you recommend? I really like the feel of the attached Tama.

The Gretsch Floating action design (same pedal as the vintage Camco) is a favorite of mine. Those were also the first pedals to be converted to chain drive by aftermarket modifiers back before manufacturers started making their own versions.

My personal favorite for modern pedals are the DW strap drives which were originally derived from the Camco/Gretsch design. I have three of them, one was made as a strap drive originally and the other two I converted to strap drive using cams off old Gretsch FA pedals (many parts on these will interchange). I believe mine are all older 5000 series pedals and I'm not sure what the current equivalent model would be. Since they share a common ancestry the DW pedals have a similar feel to the vintage models but much beefier construction.

Tama made some strap drive pedals that were similar to their version of the Camco chain drive but with a strap and with the different cam.

Additionally I have a Ludwig Atlas classic that I put the strap on in place of the chain (it comes with both) and I prefer it in that configuration. I also have a DW 9000 and a Tama Iron Cobra and both of those can be converted to strap drive, but, oddly, in both cases when I tried the straps I didn't like them as well and put the chains back on.

My first pedal was a tama nearly identical to the one in your photo, except that it had a strap. Having played both chain and strap I much prefer the strap for feel like KO said.

The strap seems quicker and more responsive, but that could be in my head. Just a preference.

I tried a modern DW 5000, but it always felt stiff and unresponsive to me. It seems there are a few different versions, but the one I tried, without the footboard, was disappointing. I'm eager to try a strap drive because I've been hearing impressive things about them lately as well as seeing them pop up in mainstream jazz drummr's gear talk or photos. I don't feel anything lacking with this Tama though. It responds equally well to fast figures I play in gospel music as well as feathering or accents in jazz. It's so good, I wonder if a strap could compare or if the strap would be better suited for jazz.

Nothing wrong with those Tama/Camcos. I have 3-4 of them laying around and they are the backup pedals I always throw in the car when headed to a gig..."just in case".

My DW 5000s all have the base plate which I like because the Velcro on the bottom helps keep my spur challenged vintage bass drums in place. There's a fair amount of adjustment on these and it's certainly easy enough to get them feeling "stiff" if things aren't set the way you want them. Mine also all have the red hinge which is supposed to be the better one. Not all DW pedals use that fancier hinge.

Speaking of stiff, if you do happen upon a vintage Camco (US) or Gretsch FA pedal it's a smart move to replace the hinge between the heel plate and footboard with a new DW one. They bolt right on and are likely to make a big improvement over the original, worn out, hinge. (I use the less expensive silver model for this purpose but the red one would work too)