sun dude,
If you're still out there, try this out. Prune spike less for two weeks and get back to us.
I've done quite a bit of work in FLA--learned the ropes in J-action-ville where I worked for Farrens (the biggest tree service in the southeast at the time--and we never prune spiked, even when side trimming pines for line clearance--in fact we had to hide our gaffs beneath the chipper truck seat). I've also climbed in Tallahasse, the Panhandle, Miami, Orlando, Mt. Dora, Lakeland--you get the picture. I lived in Gainesville too. You're not fooling anyone by saying that everyone you know prune spikes or that the HOs don't know any better or that you couldn't make a good living climbing clean. There's plenty of intelligent, affluent HOs who would be receptive to it if you offered. Just think of the college crowd--professors and such--around UF.
If you're only in it for the money, so be it, but in my book you're not a true tree man. A true tree man is a tree care professional, and prune spiking ain't tree care, no matter how you slice it.
Try rope climbing, bro, you'll love it. In fact, take two ropes up with you, you'll doubly love it...
for good measure i punched it right in the face while the customer went inside to write me a check
