Well my horn hook was broken/fatigued when I bought the bike last
winter, but the seller didn't tell me of course and I didn't know to
look, then when I broke it off the rest of the way on my first ride and
began to ride without, I mistakenly put the front strap between the
horn and the mesh thinking it would stop the machine from horning in on
my territory.

Don't do that (putting the strap between the horn and mesh).
Yesterday, the horn finished sawing off the strap while riding
(admittedly 1500 miles later) and I made do yesterday at work with a
couple of those big cardboard box staples to piece it together for the
ride home (14 miles one way).

Now I need the hook and the mesh, the recent postings on seat mesh are
very helpful. Until then, I'm crouched over the pylon so to speak (but
the box staple is holding well, I'm going to go by a shoe store tonight
on the way home and see if they'll stitch the strap back together).

Yes, I was hoping to remove the horn prior to riding without but as my
bike was so well (ab)used I couldn't get it off without major
disassembly I left it on there, hoping to make it to December where I
had time to fully disassmble without missing the miles.