Not to be harsh, but this is what cracks me up about gear advice sometimes. It's absolutely zero problem locking down a .5 for all the side pressure you want to throw at it. You just have to do it correctly. Note the strap placement.
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The cables, depending on your style, may or may not get in your way much. That's valid, but they don't for me. I tend to be purely a leaner but almost standing upright. I sit knees against the seat to rest my legs on occassion. That's when they get a little in the road.
And yes, a lot of my shots do happen behind the tree. I tend to set them up that way.
What am I changing for 2024? Pretty much nothing. I'm dialed. I plan to do more 2-sticking than 1-sticking. Just a little quicker and easier imo, good compromise between 1 and 3 sticks. Imagine that. That's probably it.