I found that by pushing down on the platform with just my hands, and camming over with just my hands, did not get the platform tight enough not to move when loading up one side or the other. It also creaked and popped quite a bit. I can also generate as much force with my arms as I put just now with my feet, easily. Some of the 300 pounders out there can probably generate more force than my body weight. I did it this way a handful of times while messing around in the yard. If I didn't, the platform would move or scrape against the tree when side loading it.
I had no intentions of putting the platform higher than a few feet off the ground until I got the full rundown on what tests were performed, and what the results of those tests were.
I get that you can push down with your hands, and pull down with your hands. I get that some folks that will get the platform tight enough to not move that way. It was not even close for me.
I said on several occasions its a piece of kit that would require some thought to use. I stand by that assessment. It won't be in my pack. It is not that it won't work for some folks. It's that the margin for error is quite thin to be used at 30' for me. And I wouldn't let any of my family or friends do it without a thorough explanation of what the risks are. I'd still probably kick and scream. Put simply, the rear portions of this platform cannot handle the weight of the average person accept in the fully cammed position, and only pushing straight down on top of the platform. In this position the weight is distributed evenly across the platform, bolt, post, etc. I feel confident in this position it won't break. My guess is any load higher than 100lbs at the edge of the platform while camming "could" cause this failure.
And for me I think about it like this:
I can stand or hang on one step or the other of my muddy stick with no problem. I can stand or hang on any part of a jim stepp with no problem. I can stand or hang on my assassin or assault - base or seat - with no problem. I can hang from any rope in my kit with no problem.
Yes, All of the above can be misused and I could be injured misusing them. But I can't break them doing things considered part of the "real world" application.
Good luck and be safe folks!
I also stand by my original assessment that some more beef in these high stress areas would eliminate my concerns, and likely those on the legal team of the manufacturer. I'm not here to poopoo on someone's parade. I'm here to give my honest opinion on a product. I think it came up short in the most important criteria for success - common sense safety.
There is no doubt in my mind that a very likely scenario may be: Someone will pull down on their platform standing on their last step. The platform won't quite go down all the way. They'll say to hell with it and figure it'll finish camming over as they step on it, and do just that. That piece will break (and if its a big fella, it will break more violently than what I experienced), and they could slip and fall. Lots of hard sharp objects to bump into before the lineman's or tether catches. Not everyone who buys from the website will visit this forum.