Qantas and Jetstar procedure is that standard door opening on Airbus types in a normal operating situation is never performed by cabin crew from the inside.
Ground staff approach the door from the outside, give two firm knocks on the viewing window, cabin crew assess that the door is disarmed and safe to open, give a thumbs-up through the viewing window which is met "thumb-to-thumb" with the same gesture from the ground staff, and then the exterior door opening sequence takes place.
This means that if the door is ever opened from the outside in the armed mode then it will automatically disarm (as most of you know with Airbus doors). With cabin crew never opening the door from the inside then it should eliminate the chance of ever having inadvertent slide deployment.
Having a velcro-strap there, whilst a prominent feature, can still be another safeguard that is missed in the process of cabin crew opening the door from the inside.
To those who say having crew open doors every day gives them the ability to 'feel' and 'experience' the door operating handle so they are prepared to use it instinctively during an emergency; thorough re-current training and emergency door opening exercises should provide for this.
Just another angle to consider.
