LeadSled,
In short, using ADS-B, and various other systems, is probably increasing collision risk, because pilots are becoming dependent on such systems, and no longer keeping an adequate lookout.
'is probably...increasing collision risk.' The same thing could be said for GPS! This is really down to training isn't it? Somebody using automated collision warnings as a substitute for lookout and listenout in the VFR pattern is asking for trouble. I'm sure that was never the designer's intention. Pilots need to have timely, accurate information and they must know how to locate, analyse and act on it. '
adequate lookout' has always been an unreliable way to separate aircraft in isolation, there are so many limitations to it and this is precisely the reason why systems were developed to aid situational awareness. ADS-B can be used (correctly) to perform directed lookout which increases the likelihood of identifying and avoiding a conflict, not the other way round.
By the look of it, this will mean a large number of pilots will no longer fly IFR and be forced to go scud running.
How do you force someone to go scud running? Does the pilot somehow enter an airmanship void, is his/her decision making incapacitated?