We have heard these kind of arguments before; and many would still say an ELT/PLB outside of the airfield/zone needs to be switched to EMERG mode physically or automatically - and sadly the fact is that automation has failed in many non-survivable accidents. If the purpose of the alert is to send rescue services, then the better option is by far a satellite tracking system (3 min, whatever) - you just follow the track to where it stops! The system should have no cb available to the crew inflight, and of course someone would have to monitor it.