With a few exceptions, my Garmin Legend HCx has been very accurate and a great navigation aid, though I could easily do without it if necessary. Accuracy depends a lot on the reception - standing at the bottom of a ravine or under a heavy tree canopy is going to be a problem. IMO, the fact that my new Garmin unit still works with a good deal of accuracy even in rugged terrain with a very limited view of the sky shows just how far electronics has advanced over the years. Not to mention the mapping capability with expandable memory is pretty useful in the field.

That said, I've always considered GPS a bonus. Really handy when available but one should not grow dependent on it. I see folks who use GPS all the time when driving a car. I wonder if they could find their way anywhere any more?