I just top cover and throw ugly wood on top. Then readjust and re-tarp after heavy wind days. Yeah, tarps do suck. Harbor Freight at least sells decent ones for cheap.
I skip the weights , use nails in bottom of pallets to hook the ropes to , I tie a taut line hitch so the ropes can be tightened or loosened
I don’t understand the reason for antifreeze in the weights(milk jugs). Liquid or frozen doesn’t affect the weight...
It is not a climate thing. Some think it does the wood no harm to continually get wet then dry out but it does take away a lot of btu's. Top covering is well worth the time and effort to keep the wood at its best.