The simple answer.... My FIRST tripod was a SLIK 700DX ! I had a gitzo 410/ arca ballhead and sold it due to over kill and my style. Sure ballheads are nice, but that slik has been to Florida twice, Az, Texas 3 times and in every tripod killing element known to man!! It still works great after years of abuse ;)

The only problem I have had with it was that the head is so beefy that my f100 with battery grip wouldn't mount in horizontal format with the 170-500 sigma(loose the grip) and have trouble with my 1D/100-400 too.

I solve that problem with the 1D by turning the tripod foot on the lens to a vertical position and if I want horizintal I adjust the tripod

That tripod is IMHO more stable than the 3221 legs all my tripod toting friends own The 3221 legs are quite stable too!