Yes. In fact, there are a number of advantages offered by the current design that have not been discussed. As I live in the area and have lots of experience seeing people use these in Southeast Asia and southern China (where I usually live), here's some off the top of my head:

1. Quick to make from local, natural, sustainable, free materials. You just split half a piece of bamboo (fast growing, flexible, everywhere in southern China/South/Southeast Asia). Can be replaced almost in-situ if broken, stolen, destroyed by local police/mafia, etc.

2. Easy to balance. The most traditional use of these sorts of poles is for bringing large loads of produce through paddy fields. In order to do so, one must frequently balance on thin muddy paths and cross streams. This is in addition to the steep and rocky terrains mentioned.

3. Easy to unload (drop the pole), without losing or upsetting your load. Thus, deniable in places where traditional street vendors are currently being pushed out by local police. (See also #1)

4. Cool and stays out of the way. Does not impede airflow to body or movement of head which may need to wear a large-brim hat. Critically important in hot and/or wet terrain, and steep terrain.

5. Can spin on the shoulder. Forward-backward orientation for thin paths (through people, planted or natural vegetation, traffic, thick foliage, rocks) or left-right orientation for lower shoulder load where feasible.

6. Skilled operators can rapidly and easily switch supporting position from the left to right shoulder very easily even under heavy load. This facilitates rest for part of the shoulder which largely offsets the alleged discomfort under high load and prolonged use.

7. To place or pick up light to medium loads (eg. mobile food preparation equipment that may include hot coals, boiling water, or similar ... relatively commonly seen in parts of Vietnam), it is sometimes useful to bend rather than fix your back in order to ensure a shock-free placement, at which point the proposed body-mounted supports become restraining.

I would also point out backpacks or harnesses of the type proposed do already exist but are usually used in different situations, ie. to carry heavier loads closer to the back up mountainous terrain where balance and wide, vegetation/rock-free paths cannot be guaranteed. Examples at http://www.tinyadventurestours.com/images/Rural/RuralYunnan4... and http://runawayjuno.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Shaping_Mo... and http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20090524-Yi%20Carrying20L...