RE: near fall
Glad to hear that you are okay.
I've have the bottom fall out on me before but I was able to lower myself using my arms to pull the platform back up. I think its MoBow that carries a tree step in his pocket or something (correct me here) in case he is hanging by his harness. That way he can screw it in to the tree and try to take some weight off the harness.
If I'm ever in that situation I guess I would try hugging the tree with my arms and legs and try to make it back to my top climber. Once there, maybe unhook my harness, throw the prussic hitch rope around thetree, and shimmy on down.
I don't know. One of those things I would have to figure out in the heat of the moment.