What great answers! I have tried the campag tool, the shimano tool, the sugino tool, and taiwan knockoffs (and even a rediculous attempt of my 'own' chainring bolt tool- that caused more skinned knuckles than all the others). The Var is the holy grail and priced accordingly. I wasn't even aware they are still available.
I still think the issue is not which tool to use. I think the slotted inside nut is the dumb design; apologies to Tullio and/or whatever french guy the Campagnolo family Ripped off and Duplicated. Truvativ (Off Topic I know) makes a chainring bolt set with 5 and 6mm allens. You think it would catch on. Sadly it hasn't.
I do find it interesting that the Campyphiles will defend anything that company has brought to market in the past, no matter how poorly thought out, and infer it's user error.
Tom Martin
Oakland CA