You obviously don't know very many riggers. I've been a rigger for 30 years and have many rigger buddies that would agree. Any rigger worth his salt will never depend on a splice, or the ships hardware to go up on. Along with that he will inspect the halyard, and if it is questionable, he will run in his own. bowlines are perfectly fine for tying onto your chair. They DON'T come undone. As far as barefoot goes, don't be stupid. Laying your foot open on a sharp edge or impaling it on a broken strand is for idiots. Any rigger worth his salt can climb not "shinney" up a rig, having his mate tail the chair under him. Once at the mast head or whatever a tie-off line attached to the chair is employed so the halyard can be used if there is not a second halyard. It's a common sense thing. And the rule "One hand for the ship and one hand for yourself" definately applies.