That's why it's a method of last resort.
Comfort in the tree is nice. But I am not climbing a tree to be comfortable. I am climbing a tree to improve my odds of killing a mature buck.
I think we can agree that you killing "mature bucks" is not a function of actually climbing the tree, but time spent sitting in it, right?
If we can agree on that, then assuming all other variables remain constant (your ability, the place you're hunting, weapon, etc.), then the more time you spend sitting in a tree should increase your odds of killing mature bucks., no?
This is precisely how I land on the hybrid being such an effective tool. I don't come at it from a "i'm soft and lazy and NEED to be comfortable in the woods to kill a deer". I come at it from a "I spend a load of my time and money hunting. I walk A LOT looking for good spots to kill deer. Usually by the time I find these spots, I'm worn out mentally and physically, and have no desire to climb a tree. Knowing that I'll be comfortable, quiet, and still once I'm up there, gets me over the hump on the decision to climb and hunt."
I'm 100% confident that since 2018 I've spent more time carrying the JX3 than I have spent sitting in it. I'm 75% sure that it's at least double the amount of time. I don't do that because I like John, or like to suffer. I do it because I know that when I need to be in a tree for an extended period of time, whether or not my legs fall asleep, my back seizes up, my hips get stiff, my knees ache like fire, etc. - none of these things will stop me. Zero Chance.
And this is what I try to get people who are considering it to think about: Saddle hunting as a thing is just a tribal signal. It's just like every other cult or religion or movement. Doing something that doesn't really make sense, makes sense because it reinforces your loyalty to the team or the cause.
Of course, there are thousands of people, like you, who are hard. Whether it's their mental and emotional fortitude (which they're lucky to have inherited), or some physical makeup (also blind luck that imparted this on them), that is more conducive to sitting on two webbing straps for 8 hours without moving. My contention is that this subset of people who try saddles, is a tiny fraction of the total number who try saddles. The rest of the people either keep doing it because they think they're soft and don't get it, and end up fidgeting all day, or worse, not spending time in a tree; Or they sell it and go back to climbers and what not because the saddle is a torture trap for them.
I'm trying to tell people that I agree with you wholeheartedly - time spent in the woods is what kills deer. Yes, it's gotta be the right woods, on the right day, with the right conditions and equipment and ability and blah blah blah. But if you can't sit still, quietly, at the right time, in the right place, you'll kill less deer. I just don't think you are the most common type. I think you are the exception. I think most people sit in a saddle and are extremely uncomfortable, and have to spend a ton of time and money to maybe get slightly more comfortable. What I try to get them to see is that they can avoid that process with the JX3. They may decide that "it has too much going on" even though it has the same amount of ropes, straps as a regular saddle with a backband. Fine, you're out 50 bucks, and an afternoon in your backyard to figure that out.
If you are a stander, hunt from a hang on. If you are a "leaner" - you're a stander who's slightly softer and lazier - hunt from a platform and soft saddle. If you're what I think is a significant majority of people - someone who can't spend 8 hours, much less 2 hours, standing or leaning in a tree, or sitting on 2 - 2" webbing straps - quietly, without moving, and with the motivation to do it enough times to be successful, You might try a JX3.
