Don't like bottle jacks. The ones with small footprint can be very unstable and dangerous. I think they're generally a poor choice for 4x4s given that 4x4s are often on uneven and soft ground. Bottle jacks are not suitable for that. Sure, hi-lifts are equally as dangerous, but they're designed to be used in more extreme situations whereby the pros often outweigh the cons. As for bottlejacks, there's better alternatives imo.
Personally I don't trust any jack. I use them for the purpose they're designed for (lifting only) and then I use something else to secure the vehicle, such as axle stands. I've seen hydraulic trolley jacks lose pressure after holding the vehicle for just 10 mins. Good job nobody was underneath. People put too much trust in these things, even though they're only designed for lifting the vehicle, not for supporting it.
The jack itself can cause severe injury. Sometimes people don't operate them correctly and the handles can fly back uncontrollably and do nasty damage. Then you have the high risk of the jack falling over. You can also chop your fingers off easily if you put them in the wrong place. To many on here, this will sound quite obvious. On the other hand though, the hi lift jack is not the most intuitive of all jacks. I'd only use one if I had no choice.
YouTube - Hi-Lift Jack Operating Instructions
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