Newbie to GMRS, just paid my $35 to FCC -- never was HAM. Have a GMRS handheld with upgraded whip antenna in hand but still learning the radio and menu buttonology. The radios I used in the past had physical buttons and switches, now it's all menu driven. Fun and games for us dinosaurs.

Off-hand, just based on available accessories like that longer whip, this is a much better radio than is available with FRS. Mostly the same channels, but much better hardware.