I think the zip was for looks and I don't think I'd put it in the side seam. I don't think he'll go for the side seams anyway. I am putting off emailing him for now. Yesterday, his car broke down expensively and his partner, in a different part of the county, hit a pothole in her car, damaging it badly. These two incidents will have put all thoughts of pockets out of his head so I have some leeway before I need to have the conversation with him!