Well... we're drifting the thread, but... When I learned to fly, radios were less common in GA planes. Most of the planes I started flying did not have a radio at all, or if they did, it was close to useless, so one did not plan to need it. NORDO was the norm. We would never assume that another airplane heard us in the circuit, if we were broadcasting. I have flown a number of 1000 plus mile trips, in NORDO planes, with no difficulty, just avoid the occasional controlled airspace. My most recent trip to the arctic a few years back could have been NORDO if it needed to be, though I did use the radio for a little night flying. When flying floats in Canada, there are few places to go into which even have ground bases radio. The most use of a radio in your plane would be to talk to a buddy.
While we're here; RONLY is "receive only". I have never flown a plane which could receive but not transmit, though the odd time, your mic doesn't work, and you're technically RONLY, though I wouldn't file that way, it sounds silly!