I love reading reports on SPOT and how poorly it performs and how it is not a real PLB etc etc... PLB can only do one thing and nothing else. SPOT can do multiple things and sort of PLB's job and it may not be the best solution but it works. People can nitpick over this and that but in the end it works. In case of power failure IF you have a second set of batteries it can be fixed not the same can be said about PLB (unless you carry McMurdo $599 with spare battery $175). That's one thing that regardless of the cost and other issues with the equipment would get me to lean towards Spot. Like orginally mentioned cost of equipment was so different that SPOT was just a smarter choice but now with the gap closing it is more of the harder choice. But SPOT is beating everyone with their functionality. Originally it gave a casual hiker an access to a poor mans PLB now it is evolving and trying to join big boys. I would say SPOT is not your granddads PLB...