Eloquently stated, Benjammin, and I think I take your meaning.

The fact is, if I don't show up, some people are eventually gonna have to come looking for me, or for my corpse. As I said, I'd find that quite embarrassing. But, as you point out, these days it can't be avoided.

I'm willing to pay to play, myself. But I'm leery of any public policy that makes outdoor recreation even more expensive, and therefore less accessible, to ordinary working folks.

In any case, I figure I'm already all paid up for any SAR I might get, at least karmicly. I've long since lost count, over a thirty year career, of the number of folks I've helped come back from their date with Joe Black, or at least from their own bad luck, bad judgment or bad timing, sometimes at the risk of my one and only posterior. Also, as someone once said, "I'm older, and I have better insurance." I could pay for my rescue, if need be.

Jeff