for the drop away problem, it sounds like the rest is bouncing up too soon. Try lengthening your pull cord up a little bit.

when I have a stand in an area that it can sink, I get a 4' wide 2 x 8, and drill 2 holes in it so the bottom of the ladder can slip into them, and it will sink until the first little step hits the board. On my ladder stands, thats about 2" deep