RE: anyone who's used the sumit viper or a stand like it
I agree the bar may get in the way from time to time, but it also has helped me many many times by allowing me to rest my bow limb on it while I waited for an animal to get close for a shot. The extra comfort and security if provides far out weights anything negitives it may have, in my opinion anyway. Summit stands in general are the most comfortable, safe and secure stands I have ever used.