Many people myself included typically let the rope they use to haul their gear up tell them. Most are 20 feet, but covers the main thing like Rev said.
Sounds like your new to climbing, best to get to know the stand and how it works first and be sure to strap yourself in right. They found a guy last year hanging dead in a tree after his stand dropped. The thought that he could add more straps to his stand never crossed his mind. Too trusting of others work.
The ladder stand depends on if it's portable, but even if it's not I'd make it to be. There are rules/guide lines for building safe comfortable ladders/stairs one of them being one step shouldn't be a quarter inch different than the last in height. It should be light weight and welded. You know how to weld that kind of material? Ya got one thing going for you, the design work is done, just get it from one's already made and approved, you should improve though. They're only going as far as they have to to sell one.
Just an FYI, there are also guidlines for the proper footware to wear on a platform Just look up rules for working on platforms/scaffolding, and NO GAMEBOYS OR CELL PHONES WHILE IN A STAND. That's a rule too. Pay attention to what your doing and feel/think with your feet as well as your head.
More than you wanted to here, but it's seldom said so I'm taking the oppotunity to do it here, no offense intended. You already have a mother and I look terrible in a dress (NO! I'm just spitballing on the dress comment)