I know it says in the rulebook that when a figure suffers strain in skirmish, its damage instead.

If thats the case, why do some skirmish only cards say figures suffers strain?

Would'nt it have been easier to have all the skirmish cards be printed with the damage symbol?

In skirmish the player has the option to discard a command card instead of taking damage from strain. So strain =/= damage, and must be indicated differently.

Thats right good point.