I guess its all in the wording flogging

Oz what you describe as a flogger I see as a cat, anything to me that is multi strand and braided is not a flogger , and yes they can be used for pleasure or punishment, To me a flogger is multi stranded loose with at the very least 40 or more strands, they can sting thud and sensitize, So what constitutes a flogger.

I know the theory the less the strands the more care and experience needed to use properly, or the lighter the whip the less power used. I personally think it is the idea or word flogging that instills fear, as you mentioned a cat being used to inflict major punishment.