The cross was a tortuous death, which is why the Romans used it. In most cases, according to Roman historians, the body was left up for days, with the birds picking apart the body that was also rotting in full display on a hill so many could see.
Again, there is no evidence whatsoever that the stake was used in eretz Israel, thus there's no reason to believe it was. And if it was just a stake, why would the oldest depictions show a cross?
The Greek word used is "stauros", which means "stake", but that word stood for any wooden structure of that type whether it be an actual stake or a cross or any wooden pole with attachments. The oldest Roman depiction of the cross is found near the end of the 1st century.
A whole cross estimated at weighing roughly 300 lbs., which makes the stake being carried highly unlikely. But the cross-member they believe weighed only roughly 100 lbs., which is feasible to carry but with great difficulty no doubt.
Anyhow, here's a source with links that you might check out, and it's compatible with other sources I've read:
Crucifixion - Wikipedia