I like that idea of using the Predator as a seat for ground hunting during gun season. Might incorporate that in the future.
I own the Predator, Flat Scout and UP. This is my first season saddle hunting and also first season bow hunting. So had a decent learning curve. Size 10 boots. I strictly climbed using the one-stick method this season.
Flat Scout - Preferred for shorter hunts (2-4 hours) in early bow season. Especially for spots that involved lots of walking. Weight savings felt like a lot to me. And I could easily pack it on my Eberlestock Dagger for a minimalist setup.
UP - Preferred for longer hunts and as things got cooler and I started running my Eberlestock X2. Shot my archery buck from the UP.
Predator - Tried using it, but ultimately felt like it didn’t offer a ton of extra room beyond the UP and rarely broke it out when I used the Scout. The weight savings of removing it from my pack was considerate when walking 1-3 miles or even a half mile through thicker areas.
I also have squirrel steps to run with the UP and Scout as needed, but did not break them out much this season. Plan to practice with them more in the off-season, as I purchased these after the season began.