Climbing stands can make it or break it for some hunters.

Some people seem to be instilled with the ability of taking a platform to the 35th floor and think nothing of washing the windows.
I use tree stands and I got nervous watching a roofer walk to the edge of a two story home, and look over it without any safety equipment.

I'm an inbetweener. Never loved height, but use to climb oil storage tanks without safety equipment.

I can easily use a tree stand, but I don't like those open stands. Open like an olympic height diving board, just so you can easily make a swan dive during a deer hunt.

And for some, one of the nice ground blinds is a good option.

And more hunters going to tree stands, means getting in shape and losing some weight. And learning to like the height; once you get there.

But again, there are no absolutes. And some of it has nothing to do with hunting.