"another set of maps with you on a small screen at great expense" simply because i look at the small screen at it tells me exactly where i am. in all weathers and when it's pitch black. i can zoom in, zoom out, find out haow far my next waypoint is, find out how far "what's that over there is" and a host of other information you may or not find useful. beats chaisng your map down a hill.
but back to the op.
what geek says. you really must try to think about what you want a gps for as there are many options available. despite the touted ease of use of gps they, like anything, have their foibles and differing techniques to get them to work in the best way for you. using a gps effectively requires learning how to use it properly just as you would learn to use a map and compass. the difference is you don't have an operating choice with a map whereas you do with a gps - you choose what you decide suits you best.
people who are anti-gps or critical of it are usually those who have no experience of using or can't be bothered to learn how to use a gps - they would be aghast if the same attitude and effort was expended on using a map and compass. a gps is so much more than a simple "where am i" box; even the very basic ones.
if you are proficient in map and compass and get a mapping gps there is a bit of a lateral shift in thinking. i use a satmap 10 and i used to think of it as a MAP with gps. i now think of it as a GPS with a map. it's so much easier to use when you think of it as a gps.
beware gps with useless features (e.g. camera) as all these do is reduce battery life.
