I tend to think that a climber is safer than lock on stands using screw in steps or climbing sticks. The hazards associated with the last 2 options are numerous. I've been using API's Shooting Star for the last few years and like it just fine. I'm getting a little older and fatter these days but still don't mind toting it in 3/4 - 1 mile for a days hunt. Some hikes are worse than others.
Regards to noise, some trees are worse than others. Large Pines are the worse, a good hardwood suits me just fine and I can get up it nice and quiet. There have been several occasions ( as recently as this past season) that I have climbed a tree and no sooner got set up, that a buck has come in on me obviously looking for something. I can only surmise that even with my best efforts to be quiet that the noise I did make must have sounded like a buck rubbing and attracted these other deer.