I saw a few old timers wear aprons when I was young. Thought it might be a good idea to wear a nail apron with pockets. I think I tried it once or twice, didn't like it!I get the chalk thing but it’s not the way I grew up playing pool. Talc, cigarettes, chalk, coins all on the rail. Pool was a bit of a mess. Some players even wore aprons.
I did various things with excess chalk. Sometimes on the light, if it was worn out I might hum it at a wall! For awhile I thought two was the right number of chalk cubes on a table, then three. Then I figured out it didn't matter, no matter how many you put they were all coming together anyway!
There are good reasons for putting the chalk rightside up and upside down. Whatever! I generally wash my hands before starting play then I wipe down the rails with the damp paper towels I dried my hands on, mostly to get tar and nicotine off the rails where smoking is allowed. I tip well so fresh chalk and often a table wiped down are the norm where I am known. I am not an automatic tipper though, pisspoor service earns a matching tip!
Hu