I will have to disagree with you. Depending on where one may be located during a trip, a GMRS or HAM Radio can be an excellent option for Emergency Communication. This is as long as you can reach a close enough tower for communication. Does this apply to everyone and every situation? Not necessarily, but it may apply to a good amount of individuals in various situations. It just depends on what you have and what is going on. Then again it may not be best option depending on what the situation is.
My point still stands.
Even if you are in a place where you can hit a tower, what freq do you call on, is that freq monitored 24/7/365? And if someone does answer, is that person capable/willing to effectively, quickly and correctly pass that emergency communication. Also do they know where and who to pass that communication too?
Unless you have made previous arrangements to have someone monitor 24/7 for the duration you will be relying on it, and have briefed what actions to take on an emergency. It simply is not effective.
You are literally calling in the blind hoping on a wish and a prayer that someone may be listening and they know what to do.
I don't know about you, but the lives of my loved ones and my life are worth more than that. Emergency contingency communications need to work the first time every time, to the extent that is possible.
Is it possible to use those services to get help? Yes. Is it reliable? NO
Purposefully handicapping yourself makes no sense and is dangerous.
Shawn