I was interested in digital modes a bit but now I think that was probably dumb. I think we'd get more as a community out of more SSB on VHF and UHF. Good luck finding a radio though.
FT8-type digital makes sense for long-range comms, but D-STAR, DMR, etc. I think are really just about cramming us into less FM bandwidth, while controlling access. There are some disturbing presentations I've seen on NXDN where boomers get positively orgasmic about registration and permissions on repeaters.
And yeah, it's mostly $1k+ niche radios to do the thing that might make sense.
And yeah, it's mostly $1k+ niche radios to do the thing that might make sense.