I like the mini, but I'm not going to get one while my Explorer+ does just fine. Hell I love how it becomes a stand alone mapping GPS even if the screen is small, it's my go to backup unit.
I've already found that functionality of the Explorer+ to be useful when wandering. To me, it's well worth the extra size & weight over the Mini.
Hardware and software continuously evolves, you're always free to make the decision to jump on or off the train. Using Explore probably won't matter to me as long as Garmin doesn't cripple using non-Garmin maps. If they do that then the decision to stand pat with the devices I have and move forward only using tablets becomes pretty easy.
Exactly. I'd prefer not being locked into Garmin's plans, especially when they change and I'm left with an orphaned or crippled device. If there was more competition for the inReach, I may have gone with a competitor.
With different apps like Gaia, I can just upgrade my device if it starts to struggle.
Yup. You can also dump an app for a competitor and not be out hundreds of dollars, use several different apps on the same device, and often share those apps with other devices without additional fees.
Even at a much lower price, I just don't see the value of the Overlander, at least not in its current form. A relatively cheap tablet in a case works well enough for me, and I can always upgrade it if the hardware flakes out. Not so with the Garmin. It reminds me of fancy OEM in-dash audio/video units that cost too much, can't be updated, and rapidly fall behind the tech curve.
