How good is a radio like this as a means of receiving information during an emergency as opposed to dedicated devices such as a weather radio from oregon scientific, and/or a shortwave radio from eton? I want to be able to receive am/fm/shortwave and weather.

How is it for general listening, like say if I just want to listen to a radio show?

I don't have a radio at all now, except for the am/fm in my car. I've researched models from eton and sony, but the Yaesu seems to have most all of the features I want in one device along with the ability to transmit. Here are some of the other radios I've considered:

Sony ICF-SW7600GR
Eton FR600

I think the sony is the only one with SSB. How important is that?