It was actually me, he doesn't play much anymore as he has arthritis. Yes, you are supposed to hit the strings, but i've never had that happen on any other guitar i've played in 20 years - suggesting those other 50+ guitars were not made from a perishable material, on a £1800 instrument I found that shocking.
My point is that I think this is not a pickup any player who should get if they are a 'physical' player. Home plodders/wall art collectors go ahead.