Watch link strap hugely frustrating

Is anyone else find the Apple Watch Links Strap hugely frustrating. To remove links or add is an absolute frustration and a test of ones patience. My fingers are aching trying to "press and release" the links - why on earth make something so unbelievably difficult to do? Is there a trick to it? What am I missing? And why does there have to be a trick to it? Surely it can just work more easily?