Personally I've never owned a stick steer or fished out of one. I've had a console for the past 7 years and I won't own anything else. I've not yet reached my golden years so the back and forth doesn't matter to me. I don't move that much anyway. I had my live well doors turned around when I bought it so no I just leave my doors open and I can throw a fish from the front deck to the livewell. I normally fish by myself so it's nice to have the room. I also wanted the hp to get off the lake if a storm were to come up or something of that nature. A stick steer just doesn't offer that hp.