You make an excellent point, but a key phrase is "properly used."

If you have reasonably adequate equipment and navigation aids, traditional or electronic, you won't get lost, although as Dan'l Boone is reported to have said, you might be "confused" for a bit -BTDT.

The case that triggered this discussion is an extreme example. I don't wish to berate this unfortunate lady, but she clearly had orientation issues, and would have benefited from a companion.

Electronic devices are great, although a tad pricey, but they can be used improperly. There are many reported instances out there.

Whatever you have, use it properly.

I am a Luddite when it comes to this generation of whiz-bang electronics, having navigated for decades using paper maps and compass (occasionally). GPS is highly useful, although even there i have seen the signal distorted in narrow canyons. But GPS definitely reduces "confusion."