I have tips installed at full height. For the past few years, I have been using hard layered tips and do not anticipate much benefit in playability by having them cut down. In the past, my single layer tips were replaced when they got to a dime thickness. Most of my ferrules are ivory and have fiber pads, so I have not worried about the ferrules. Hard layered tips last a long time for me. I have not worn one down enough to force a decision to change. Delamination became a problem before getting that close to the ferrule.