bcw wrote:
"We are quite happy to support PA's PI3 protocol if they wish to start talking to us. We are also quite happy to give them our information so that they can integrate with our system."
This strongly suggests that bcw is closely associated with the OpenFLARM project. If so, I am very disappointed that bcw did not declare an interest in OpenFLARM in the initial post. Perhaps that is why the moderators initially removed it.
Having said that, a very useful discussion has developed on a subject that has interested me for several years because Mark 1 eyeball is simply not good enough!
I came to the conclusion a couple of years ago that a low cost electronic anti-collision warning system would eventually be developed for GA, probably based on ADS-B.
However, I also came to the conclusion that it was several years away. In the meantime, imho PowerFLARM offered valuable safety benefits immediately.
That is why I bought PowerFLARM portable despite the cost. In any event it was/is a fraction of the cost of TCAS. Since then, I have found it very capable and useful but of course it is not perfect. The Mark 1 eyeball is still important because a lot of traffic still has no electronic signature. And amazingly, I have found that in a lot of Mode C equipped aircraft, the pilot does not even switch it on.
So you can wait for perfection or use what is already available and useful. I have done the latter. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
PS I have no commercial connection whatever with PowerFLARM or FLARM.