Since you have to pay the extra fee for the extra features, why not not just purchase a PLB and bring your cell phone. Granted your cell phone is less likely to get a signal out depending on your location (than say a sat phone) but for just checking in to say "honey, I'm fine" I could do with that.

After a couple years of subscription you are almost at the same price you paid for the satellite based PLB anyway so what type of sucker is this guy pitching his equipment to?

Personally, I think wait a year or two for the PLBs to come down a bit more in price and size then maybe I'll get one.