The only stand I ever used was a friends Tree Lounge. Nice and comfortable but you sat kind of strange in them. And it seemed to take for ever to get it set up. But once on the tree it worked good. I am not crazy about those screw in steps either. But I am sure they work as they sell a lot of them.
Like you I went to permanent stands because they were more solid and all I had to do was to walk out. But as of late I have been going ground. I got some of these dog house blinds that set themselves up. I kind of like them. But you can see so much better out of trees.