True, gear selection is driven by hunter preference. As a result, what's equal across the board gets a bit convoluted, as not all boards are equal.
For me:
Knee pads, never use 'em. I'll knee into my pack or into my frame pack belt occasionally, & the seat pad of my .5.
I have a saddle that weighs 1lb 11oz. There's saddles that weigh 1lb, I don't choose them. What does a safety harness weigh? Doesn't matter, I'm saddle hunting anyway, lol, so I don't choose those either.
Never seen, used, or needed an underquilt. I use the same bibs I've used since before I saddle hunted.
Anyway, those are my choices. They don't need to be anyone else's. Milage almost always varies. There's no best, just best for oneself.
JRB basically hunts from ropes. He could carry a bowling ball with him and my usual setups would be bulkier and weigh more.