For me I like the riser bars mainly because I don't have to bend over as far when riding with the pole down. Set up wakes, or whenever the pole needs to go down all the way I'm not breaking my back as much to do it. Everybody is different, but I love riser bars. And as far as mounting goes, I almost always side mount. I don't crawl up the center of the tray getting my elbows on the rails and pull myself in the tray. For me I actually expend less energy side mounting. Meaning when I am in deep water, both hands on the bars, I'm next to the ski, turn the bars away from me (if I'm to the left of the ski I turn right and vice versa) then gas it, the ski basically turns under me and I get a knee, or foot on the back of the tray and away I go. Very minimal energy expended and is a super quick way to get back on the ski. Once I got used to it, I wished I stumbled upon this mount a lot sooner. Hope that helps a bit..