We have been using both plywood and Alturnamats for the last 12 years for the kboom and the elevator bucket both leave indentations in the grass, as driveways go we use either and we only cracked one . Plywood has a place and alturnamats have place, there is not one material out there so far...
We own two vermeers both with vermeer grapples , we don't carry brush more than 24 in off the ground. We have found there is a learning curve but once you learn a good operator can keep up and pass a BMG operator ! I have yet to see a BMG pick up a 36 in log 4 ft long or bigger and not have it...