Earlier quoted context omitted.
The little plastic bits always snap off. Ethernet is great for semipermanent wires but not very good for peripherals like portable hard drives that are constantly disconnected and reconnected.
That problem is largely solved if you use 8P8C connectors with a rubber boot protecting the latching tab. https://info.pcboard.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RJ45-Conn...
Even HDMI is better.