> Since the connection will have already been created at this point how are these options ever used? Hasn't self.socket_options already been set?

No it hasn't been set yet. The `ConnectionCls` (e.g., `HTTPConnection`) has only been initialized (which doesn't create a socket connection).

> The slight variations on _new_conn scream refactor especially since self.strict is being checked for again in connectionpool when it is already popped off in HTTPConnection when appropriate.

I think you might be conflating some things but I'm also very tired and could be entirely missing your point.