I am not a fan of them either, but we sell them at the archery shop where I work part time. Some hunters love them and some hate them. They are popular with a lot of backcountry elk hunters because they are light weight and easy to pack. I myself don't own one and don't plan to either. I do have 4 other hang on stands but even then in the elk country I hunt their are only two directions UP and DOWN, unless a wallow is at the top of a ridge there is always somthing higher. I put a stand over a wallow a few years back, I climbed the tree hung the stand then sat in it to clear the branches. Only then did I realize that the ground behind me going up the mountain was only 20 yards away at eye level. And the wallow in front seemed almost strait down. I quickly took down the tree stand and made a good ground blind. I am planning on buying a nice ground blind soon, just havn't decided as to which one yet.