Originally Posted by
double_barrel
OK, OK, I don't want a quick and simple way to know my location relative to the standard reference that everyone else around me is using. I'll just keep gazing out of the window.
It really isn't personal, just a communication confusion. If you know where you are, then using principles of Threat and Error Management means that you've always got a reasonable idea of where you are relative to the standard reference that everyone else is using - we both agree on that being important. It just really is simpler to have a good quick rough reference, trusting someone else's report of X.X miles from anywhere involves appreciating that their precise position changed as soon as their transmission finished. Bear in mind piston aircraft may cruise anywhere between 50-55 and 210 knots, before any wind effect!