Thanks for your feedback!
I don't think it's necessarily the checkpoint system that's the issue - I think it's just the difficulty ramp of this prototype is WAY off because I obviously have played this game a lot throughout development so I overestimate what beginners are able to do.
I did think about the system you described, but the issue is that a lot of players will bounce around on the saplings instead of actually touching solid ground. It might be worth looking into though.
The wallrun has been a major focus in the last few weeks of development. I'm going to change the way that the islands are shaped so that it's more clear what you can wallrun and what you can't. But if you can give more details about how it feels clunky, I'd really appreciate it!