Does the Black Diamond ‘FlickLock’ mechanism allow sections to be completely removed?

Yes they do. You can buy replacement sections on their website too.

Someone had a post on using them with the bottom section removed and joining them with a piece of 12mm tubing to make a tall tent pole.

I've thought of making a fishing pole (a very stiff one of course) using a trekking pole that way and wrapping eyes on it. Never thought about a net.

Picture for you. These are the black diamond alpine carbon.

Also the seperated sections provide useful pegs for pitching a tent in snow.

Thanks for the picture, and the comments everyone, that is just what I needed, going to order a pair of them from MEC in Canada.

By coming apart like that it seems like they could be very flexible in what they can be used for. I like the stake idea.

Cheers,