I’ve used the WE steps as a platform last year, I don’t really prefer it though. It can be difficult to get all the steps on the same plane in certain types of trees and just a lot of readjusting especially in the dark, which is why I moved to an actual platform this year. But if you are going to use the WE as a platform 3 steps is perfect. I mainly stood on the steps on the sides of the tree or would put my feet on the middle step and straddle the tree to give my legs a little break. Hope this helps