Hey man love the content. I use the Bellroy Lite Pouch Duo. The smaller pencil case works pretty well and the larger pouch fits nicely on the inside glad pocket😎
Those pockets are a standard feature on most hunting packs and I do agree that unless you have hunting equipment, they are a little awkward even tho they look pretty cool… but in my opinion the best pack they ever made is actually Bravo 18…
The RE31 is a great bag that to your point, is not perfect, but is a nice addition to any collection. You can buy two Dmade pencil pouches that fit perfectly in the front pockets. I purchased two in matching materials, and they work well.
I view the vertical pockets as bonus storage. I have quick access at the top, water bottle pockets, and internal zipper pocket. I throw my phone and wallet into one of the verticals for swing access and the other side can hold any other miscellaneous like AirPods, keys, pencil case, edc kit, etc. It would be nice to have a some vertical segmentation in them though.