Hi Jim,
I enjoyed that excellent GPS article [1] [by Mike S., “GPS for Day-to-Day Use and Survival”.] It squares well with my personal experience.
GPS on-board mapping has many errors. Seems worse in the hinterlands. Also pretty bad where new construction is concerned. I was amused while driving in MA that for about a half mile my GPS unit thought I was driving down railroad tracks.
While snowshoeing with friends, my buddy had to demonstrate the GPS on his iPhone. All it showed was a dot in the middle of a blank screen. We were beyond the reach of cell phone towers and his phone could not access a map. We had a good laugh about it, but it’s a good thing we knew our way through other means.
Many people who totally rely on a GPS for driving seem to lose their innate sense of direction. I asked a cousin for directions to a place and he said. “Huh . . . I’ve been there a hundred times but just follow the GPS directions. I really couldn’t find my way there without it.”
I do enjoy having GPS in my car. It came in handy when my speedometer cable broke and I could get my mph off of the unit.
Just be aware of its limits and don’t forget your other navigation skills. – Raymond