I have to disagree. With fresh comb it’s not a problem, they’ll work the wax to their liking. Older comb has to have the layers of cocoons broken away to form a ledge for the bees to start the cells within the time parameters of a quality queen being produced.
Bees chew through wood, particle board, cardboard if have to - no problem.
Old combs - they will shred as if nothing and do it quickly - IF have to and IF they care.
Good example - observe what the robbers do to the combs, does not matter how old - now that is some motivation.
But even that, why do the notching even on new combs over the foundation?
Why?
Mel D does that too (I have seen it on his materials).
One theory maybe that the plastic foundation really does interfere with the normal bee life.
For sure, I tested plastic foundation/frames this season - they ignored them for as long as they possibly could and forever in few cases.
Anyway, the notching is too based on the premise that you place that notch in exactly the right place because you know better than the bees.
You suggest the larvae to be turned into the queen material based on subjective visual criteria.