It sounds like the emergency features enable two-way communication, which is great, but I wonder if the procedures around that lead to more false positives. If they get an emergency signal and no further response, I suppose the appropriate assumption is to assume the worst, and send out responders. The PLB is unidirectional, so the procedures involve using the (regularly updated) contact info to see what the heck is likely going on. That'll get them to my cell phone (wouldn't have worked for you) and, failing that, to my emergency contacts -- and my parents (in my case) can reasonably say "try calling so-and-so, he should be with them", etc. Still takes responder time, but at least not a physical response until all other avenues are exhausted.
Not at all. The phone probably will be mostly intact - it has your soft squishy body to absorb the sudden deceleration.
It definitely makes it connect faster (a min or two) vs the 10-20 it can take when you don’t
I’m impressed and it’s nice to have that additional level of safety
I've been on a bicycle with a loose pocket or used it to check the map while biking. Great idea? Probably not. Happens to everyone? Absolutely not. Happens? Very much yes.