If there were no pitch in my world, I'd most assuredly be happiest with a lanyard constructed of 1/2" rope, adjusted with a distal hitch w/ a micro pulley slack tender. I like a long lanyard, gives more options. Even when I'm not working in large trees, I like one between 15 and 20 feet. Never liked an arrangement that creates a loop, so the tail of mine hangs free, terminated with a figure 8 or 9 knot. I like an aluminum snaphook for the throwing end.
But there IS pitch in my world, in abundance. So I frequently use a lanyard adjusted with a Petzl Micrograb on the rope lanyard, otherwise set up as above.
For spur climbing I favor a 5/8" cable core flipline adjusted with the Petzl Macrograb. Steel snaphook. I have one 12' and one 15'. If I need it I still have a couple of old school 3/4" manila cable core lanyards...18' and 24'. Adjust those with a becket hitch. Heavy...I seldom have to break those out since I got into SRT.
I double lanyard fairly frequently, so I might have two cable core lanyards on my harness, or two rope lanyards, or one of each. Since I change between lanyards often, I wouldn't find a permanent mount to the D ring useful, but it looks sweet for those that can use it.