Quote-
" I still don't get people like Band a Lot who seem not to be able to comprehend that it's possible to monitor more than one frequency."
Most craft I know have 2 VHF and maybe a HF. 1 VHF com is needed for general communication in Area/s so I think the other should monitor 121.5 as a HF can not.
If you have 3 VHF that is great, but to monitor Area and gossip channel I personally think is not the safest way to get vital info out in a emergency.
123.45 is not monitored for a emergency use but uses more transmitting time than most Area frequencies.