I cut the scuff around the toe. Re shoe goo , i apply it on the toe and around the face, back, edges for about 5mm( creates a toe cap of sorts). No one else really seems to do this , but whenever batmakers , cricket retailers , clubmates etc see my bats they always comment on how nice the shoe goo application is . .... to the point where people ask me to do it for them . I find the extra goo around the toe (face , back, edges) helps against yorker and moisture damage and even helps hold toe cracks in tact for longer. I recently had the worst toe impact on an old net bat which im sure would have been a toe explosion if not for the shoe goo.