Just a thought on using a dowel for balance...
When the BSS2 system came out, I was recovering from a long-term hip/groin injury. Before that, I had done Firm, Cathe, etc. and had never used a dowel for balance. When I could finally do standing leg work again (after nearly a year), I used a dowel, no weights, and a shorter tall box. When I felt more comfortable with the exercises, I quit using the dowel for balance.
At this point, I noticed something interesting. My form and balance for standing leg work had actually
improved. This was especially true for "moving" lunges and dips. Using the dowel allowed me to focus on strengthening my lower body without cheating on my form. Even when I started using weights again, my form was better than it was before the injury.
So, I think that using a dowel for balance is a good idea sometimes. Beginners and people recovering from injuries could probably benefit from using a dowel until they get stronger. More experienced exercisers who have difficulty with a certain exercise might improve their form by doing the exercise with a dowel and no weights for a while.
Sometimes I still use a dowel for balance when the instructor does - of course, I never hang onto it for dear life.
I like using a dowel when I want to focus on strength without thinking about balance. It's just a nice change sometimes. I don't worry about becoming dependent on this "crutch" because I do plenty of strength workouts without the dowel. I also practice yoga regularly, and I love working on balancing poses!