James,
I don't use a tripod or monopod for my wildlife shooting or my dog sports or action shots so it's a lot easier for me to control where I put the center point when I'm in AI Servo. I do use a tripod for Show Formals but that's it. When I shoot landscapes, I also use a tripod mainly because it slows me down which I think is useful for me when doing that type of photography.

As for monopods, I've used them and I don't really like them. For the same reasons you mentioned -- if I'm going to hand-hold rather than use a tripod, that's what I'll do. The monopod only hinders my ability to get high or low when I need to in order to track what I'm shooting.

Take care,

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz