RE: Big lag bolts instead of screw in steps??
I would strongly recommend against it. I know of 2 different guys that have fallen because of them. Fortunately neither was seriously hurt.
Repeated use can cause them to loosen over time, especially if you are a big guy. Tree steps are $2 a piece and designed to distibute a climbers weight safely. That is a small price to pay to make sure you come home in one piece.