I would have to agree with you and Doug that I wouldn't bet my life on it, I would definitely go with the ACR. I think over time the Spot will get better providing that they change over to the newer sats, but it's a start up company and will take time to get proficient to work the bugs out, unfortunately it will take one death to ruin and bankrupt the company if their system fails to perform. I'm not a fan of paying yearly for a service either, if I have to do that, I would just rent one when needed.

The good thing about Spot is it may spin other companies off to compete making a better product and with the N95 out and more technologies getting better I can see something on a more global base and reliable rescue product. Even with the current system with over 90% false alarms, needs to be fixed but there's way too much bureaucracy to fix it. Nasa and the military have a huge logistic's at hand to support operations and with fixed budgets the civilian sector will be the last to benefit.

I fear the one day when they put a GM onstar built in your back pack and someone is tracking you 24/7 and you reach down to tie your shoes and a lady comes over a speaker sewed in your pack and says "Hello Mr. Ritter, this is Holly from Onstar and I have noticed that you have fallen and can't get up, your location is XXX and do you need me to dispatch SAR?" or "I see you are being attacked by a black bear and being eaten alive, would you like for me to arange your funeral?"