Playing devils advocate here...
If you're so worried about a collision with a glider, why don't you install a Flarm device in your aircraft? All of a sudden you'll be warned about perhaps 90%+ of the glider fleet in your vicinity - at least that's what the Flarm uptake seems to be here in NL. Flarm is a lot cheaper than a Mode-C/S transponder plus TCAS/PCAS, and works even in the absence of an interrogation signal. And requires a lot less power.
Gliding and Powered flying happen to be two different worlds, with different education, examination and operating practices. What gives the powered flying world the right to impose their way of life (mode-S transponders, R/T, quadrantal rules, whatnot) on the world of gliding? Why can't the good things from the gliding world (Flarm, keeping a good lookout in uncontrolled airspace) be imposed on the Powered flying world?
Last edited by BackPacker; 27th June 2013 at 21:24.