I haven't had the bar and it was ok, still piled'm up. My brother has a bar and uses it to sit, or better said lean on and has a better 360 view than I did. Last year because of the feature spotted deer long before I did. He also spooked them before I could get a shot off, but we had a good laugh about it.

The North Star I'm using this year has the bar and it does swing down out of the way. I'd say that is the way to go. Ibelieve you can remove them anyways soget one with and see for yourself.