I've been reluctant to purchase and carry a PLB, if only because it's one more thing to carry beyond my cell phone, and I'm gonna have the phone in my pack for sure.
Without the phone, I couldn't follow Sean Hannity's twitter feed, after all...
Well, to be honest, I have no idea whether Sean Hannitty has a twitter feed and I don't use Twitter at all, but I do carry an Android and spare battery(ies) in the eastern Sierra where we're backpacking most of the time, because we've got Verizon signal in all but the lake basins but including places like Clark Lakes. Frankly, at night, I turn on the phone, email out a photo of the Scouts taken earlier that day with the phone and give the parents and such an update regarding our adventure, the weather and more. Where we're headed into null-zones for a day or more, I just tell them in advance.
Now, if disaster struck in a null zone, we'd be in good, old traditional trouble -- especially if disaster related to large, old men that outweigh 2+ Scouts... (yeah, zip it!) So, there's certainly an argument for the PLB. However, I do ensure that every adult leader has a phone, conserves battery and puts the Ranger Station number into their phone book. Our Scouts know that, in the event it's necessary, their SOP will be to take two men, two phones and hike to a ridgeline for signal where they can call 911 and the Ranger Station. I know my boys can't carry me out if I've blown a knee, back or gasket... but feel like we can rely upon the cell coverage in emergencies --where we go, so far.
Plus, I can get in a round of Angry Birds.
Now, solo hiking? The issues might change for me, now that I'm no longer invincible.