Since you're in a mood for a chat about it, why not. It's just a forum jabber anyway
We may argue about certain numbers, reliability, which both of us take only from internet articles anyways, because neither me, nor you (I presume If you did you'd have said so) have enough personal experience with this system to provide first hand information. What I know from personal experience, is further you go, less chances for rescue in time you have in case of a life threatening situation. And well known fact is, true reliability comes from simplicity. You may talk about the technology, and fancy gadgets when you're safe ashore, but on the sea there is always something happening. Always. Simpler the gear is, greater your chances are. And believe me, I'm not and and old prick that hates modern technology... Would say exactly opposite. I'm very much much a gadget person. On my boat I got 3 GPS receivers, one in radio, one in handheld waterproof garmin, and one in plotter. I got DSC marine radio with AIS, connected to toughbook, use LSB receiver for weather faxes. Not even mentioning all emergency equipment incl EPIRBs.
...so what. When on the sea, I only have VHF on, that displays lat/long, and gives AIS warnings, and navigate on admiralty paper maps using ruler, divider and compass. When in the mood, I play with toys. But always have hard backup in paper and pencil.
Had an accident on fishing cutter once on Baltic. 18m vessel, single prop, rudder, diesel. Sea state 7-8. Rescuing nets before storm. We've lost clutch, so diesel and pumps were still working, but propulsion was lost. My skipp was somehow working the rudder fin, that our bow was always more or less towards the wave forehead. You know, call me old fashioned, but having lost propulsion in Hamilton's gadget, where there is no rudder, you're dead brick in the water. And propulsion lost, isn't a rare incident. If you live close to sea, buy yourself a VHF, and listen to channel 16. You'll see I'm not just talking out of the hollyhole.
If it was for me to make decisions about choosing the propulsion for close range port maintenance vessels, including a rescue boats, I'd still go for props. And don't get to excited with maneuverability because experienced skip with single prop and rudder, can do pretty much the same. Not mentioning there are thrusters now days which make things much easier, but are not essential for sailing.
