That's sobering testimony to what otherwise sounded like a great new product. I hope the folks who put on the demonstration (or someone else) will write to SAIL. It's unfortunate for them to prominently endorse a product that may not effectively do what it's intended to. And it makes you wonder what the USCG was thinking ...

I may still get one, as in a true abandon ship situation the continuous signal supplemented by SOLAS flares might be the best of both worlds and help rescuers with the final honing in. More importantly, it gives flexibility wrt the expiry dates on flares that are otherwise (usually) perfectly good even if past expiry.

(That said, I've read that in France it's illegal to have flares aboard that are out of date. I don't know what lobbyist group got that regulation into the books, but I'll take my chances if we go there.)

All the best, and thanks again,
Max