Just did my first test shots with a permanent pier in new obsy having previously had a tripod permanently left outside, albeit embedded in lawn..
No foam, just a good concrete base and strong fixings for the pier along with some time and effort on the initial drift alignment.
Massive grin on face watching flat lines on phd...snort..
If you don't want ringing noises in your pier, don't hit it..dull thud indeed.
