I've used every type of stand over the years but have used my "enhanced" buddy stands more in recent years than other stands because they are comfortable, safe to ascend, and a good combination of hunter concealment and weather "proofing". They are also not very heavy to get the components back into the woods. First, metal buddy stands only cost about $100 to $150 depending on when you buy them, are not that heavy compared to 2x4s and plywood and can be carried into the woods by a couple of people or an ATV and assembled on-site out of the box. I also use a store bought metal tree mounted canopy frame to provide a canvas "roof" over them to shed rain, snow, and leaves.. The metal frameworks are very strong and last "forever" as I have at least two that have been in place for at least 15 years with no real rust or cracking problems.
Now for the "enhanced" part. An open stand of any kind provides no concealment or weather resistance. So I get pressure treated wooden lattice and camo paint it with spray paint before I mount and attach it to the buddy stand framework on all sides with paracord and zip ties leaving a hanging "door" in the front that hangs from the steel railing. Paracord and zip ties last years with little to no deterioration. The deer cannot see much through the lattice but you can look out through it and see the deer if they walk under you or close to you. And then I cover the lattice with see-through burlap or other camo-fabric that further cuts visibility to the deer and cuts wind and rain from blowing in very much. Zip tying the fabric to the lattice prevents it from blowing around in the wind but allows sunlight to penetrate so no mildew and mold occurs as I have seen in boxed in enclosures. You can reach over the buddy stand railing and zip tie tree branches with leaves for more natural camo until it looks like a birds nest up in the air.
You find yourself in an easy-to-shoot-from relatively open surround-blind with a canopy up in the tree but able to see all around you and still get the outdoors feeling with just a little breeze or mist in your face on windy/drizzly days but without that feeling of being "boxed" in. Shooting guns and crossbows is easy because you just hunker down a little when a deer comes along and rest them on the shooting rail. Shooting a vertical bow can be harder but can be done with some practice.
Total cost of the materials (stand/canopy/lattice/burlap) that can be hand carried into the woods is only around $300 and maybe less. I can actually go to sleep in them by tying or strapping myself in to the stand as I lay back on a padded cushion. Unless it's extremely cold and very windy and blowing rain I much prefer to "smooth it" by hunting out of one of these stands. The deer almost never know you are there.
