I've used just about everything at one time or other. Bipods, both high and low, sitting sticks, standing sticks (both 2 and 3 leg) military sling, Ching sling, conventional position shooting, backpack and whatever improvised rests I could find. Nothing is going to replace having a solid knowledge of basic position shooting.
All have their place, and can be an aid in some situations. All the aids have been used as a crutch at times for people who don't know how to shoot. A bipod is a great thing in the right circumstances in the prairies, specialized long range rifles, and varmint rigs. A few of my rifles never have the bipod taken off, many will never get one put on. A lot of shooters that can do some good work from bipods are completely useless without one, but then there are also people who can't shoot except from a bench. The bipod is
very hindering on a moving target, at least when its close. There's likely nothing better for prone coyote calling in the snow, but that's sort of an acquired taste in itself. For the very longest ranges, well like I said there are some rifles that never get the bipods removed. They do tend to ruin the carrying and handling properties of a rifle. I seldom use one on a general purpose rifle anymore.
High African style shooting sticks were originally called grass sticks and were developed for the specialized use of longer range offhand shooting in chest high grass. They might even be the best for that, but have somehow taken over to the point where they will get set up even when using them is dumb. A few examples I've seen of that are setting up sticks beside a perfectly good tree, or on bare ground that prone would have been practical, or on a shot so close that a bayonet would have made more sense than a rest. Africans tend to get a little twisted up in their own traditions, and have certainly become accustomed to clients that can't shoot. If someone else wants to carry them then I don't mind but seldom use them anymore. Usually there's a tree around, often the same tree you where using for stalking cover.
Sitting sticks are OK, if you happen to be sitting. 'Course if you're sitting a sitting position works pretty good too. At least they are easier to throw away than a bipod.
I haven't found any shooting aid that will replace just learning how to shoot in the first place for sheer versatility. Since most rifles seem have a sling anyway, having and learning to use a proper shooting sling is worthwhile and doesn't clutter the rifle anymore than it already was. I used a Ching sling extensively for a few years but seem to have drifted away from it again and find myself with a bare rifle more often than not.
I haven't seen anyone who was a good offhand shot who couldn't take advantage of natural and improvised rests in different positions without thinking about it much. I have seen many that were useless when they couldn't use their Lago toy rests.
A case of .22 shells would get most shooters farther than all the crutches in the world.
