You're completely wrong about the digital compass. When you want to see where to go on your GPS map you will usually stop to take a look at you GPS and take a new bearing on a land object (except you're riding some vehicle). The orientation of your GPS map will be lost at once, or you'll have to know exactly from which direction you came to orient it properly. Or to walk at least 10 yards in some straight direction to make a new one (usually much more than 10!). Not convenient in many situations. The backup compass is a backup compass. I doubt you'll be holding them both in your hands when orienting on the trail.