i use a viper ss...
i love it...
packing it and setting it up takes a little practice...but once you get your own method down, you can do it in the dark and quiet as ever...
im pretty darn sure i dont pack mine how they show...mainly because i have the front gear bag and like to attach my coat and pack to the stand...
ive made dark to dark sits on many occassions in that stand...heck, most those sits i hardly stood up..might not be the MOST comfortable, but its comfy enough!
my only complaint would be its a tadddd tight when im bundled up and got stuff in my pockets...but, im not a tiny guy...and even when im bundled up in thick clothes and pockets bulging, i can still sit no problem and stand no problem..with light gear on i have tons of room...
its not super heavy but ive never carried anything else to compare it to..i just know i dont have a problem with the weight and made mile and a half hikes with it, a coat and pack on my back...
the front rail IMO is something i dont think i will ever do without...makes climbing MUCH easier..lift the top portion upto your butt, sit on the bar, raise the bottom with your feet and stand up and raise the top portion again...and it makes me feel very safe..i hunted from many stands without the front bar and much rather have it..for security, and i like to lay my bow on it so its right there in my hand...if i take a nap i'll usually hang the bow up...(yes i nap in the stand lol...often!) but like to keep it right there in my hand...i also hang the front pouch from that bar and i LOVE the front pouch..i can keep the essentials right there infront of me and it blocks movement and keeps my gear right there..no standing and reaching for the grunt tube or water bottle or binocs or whatever..i keep my tie off rope and hangers in there as well so theres no digging around for that stuff in the dark...it also blocks movement..im somewhat fidgity with my hands..
the front bar doesnt get in the way at all of shooting if you stand up...i can shoot 360 degrees around the tree standing...if the bar is in the way standing it would be straight down..which im not worried about taking anyways...the bar can get in the way sitting for sure..but, i rather stand to shoot..and prime movement times im standing just to be ready...if i raised the seat up higher i could likely shoot sitting down in more positions than i can currently..but i like how i have it set and am not worried about what i cant shoot sitting down..if you can twist around to make the shot sitting you may as well stand up IMO...
im pleased with my viper...only modification was the front bag and a spray job..cant standddd the color of factory tree stands...a tri color camo job took care of it..though most of it is covered in padding and their summit skin....i camoed it before i applied all that..
good luck...