I'm going to toss out the point of terrain. Rick is in Illinois (flatter, muddier? I don't know, one time I was in Chicago though it was so flat I could see my house in North Hollywood from a freeway overpass
) and most who don't like them are hardcore California/AZ rock guys. HiLifts are impossible in the rocks, no doubt. Different terrain may prove to require different tools, and the HiLift may just fit the bill perfectly. I don't have any problems with them, I realize how dangerous they are and try to be careful.
I always carry one, for the miriad of uses. Just last week I pulled up 10 fence posts in Los Olivos on the movie I was on, sure wa a lot easier than calling the ambulance after Teamsters tried to pull them out by hand
I just don't think there is a clear cut yes or no. If you like it great, if not, don't use it.