The grip pods and their knock-offs aren't really great at either of their jobs. They're big and clunky for a fore-grip and aren't really great bi-pods. They're used overseas as a rifle-stand for the soldiers to set their rifles down when they're eating in the DFAC or need to set their rifles down somewhere else.
If you're running a vert grip on a "run and gun" AR then just grab it way down low on the grip when you go prone. Rest your left hand on the ground and let the rifle set on the magazine. You're forward hand acts as a "monopod" with it on the ground and holding the fore-grip. You just tweak how much of the grip you've got in your hand up or down and with that hand resting on the ground with the second point of contact at the magazine it's very stable for any type of run and gun course.
If you're shooting a "precision" AR, just suck it up and use a real bipod that you can load without fear of breaking it.
