Left behind by technology. Am I alone?

[vsmith]

Yeah this topic has pretty much been beaten into the ground...

The lessons learned? I dunno:

Use whats best for your layout

Use what level of technology your comfortable with

Dont worry about what others are doing.

If you have guest operators, then they should be responsible for bringing the appropriate equipment to run on your layout whether DC or DCC.

There is no right or wrong here, just whats best for your given circumstances. DCC works great for alot of people, and I would dare say, if I was starting from scratch and i could get a decent starter system for not much more than a standard DC startup, I too would probably bite.

But for alot of folks, myself included, DC works just fine. My layout is so small that for me, forking out for DCC just doesnt add up, but I also can easily see how those who want sound effects and/or other features, using DCC even on a very small layout, would be very desirable.

To me, DCC vs DC is part of layout planning, at some point, especially as a layout plan grows in size, a certain amount of automation and simplification like DCC allows would become not just desirable, but a necessity.

That my 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I just spent the better part of half an hour deleting off topic posts concerning things not having to do with model railroading.  Now back to the topic posted by the original poster.

You'll only be left behind by technology if you allow it to happen. Sit by and do nothing and it'll happen. As far as converting from DC to DCC you can do as much or as little as you please. For me independent locomotive operation with light and motor control is enough. I have no desire to have sound, working signals, turnouts automatically tripped by oncoming trains, etc. I don't need all that.

[BRAKIE]

Jeff,Been thinking again(extremely dangerous).

DCC has a lot of possible topics such as advanced momentum settings for switching,advanced CV settings for improved locomotive performance,start and top voltage for enriched operation etc and for me my Tech 6 allows that in DC or DCC and those settings does improve the performance..This applies to Athearn BB,Genesis and RTR,all Atlas and P2K locomotives.

IMHO its a well guarded secrete what DCC can do beyond running several trains..