There was a time when sailors did not rely on others to come to their aid at a press of a button. I agree, flares and the courtesy of a listening watch on 16 should be normal procedure for every skipper today.
Technology is great.....when and if it works. But and a big but, if you rely on someone else always being available you are failing in your duty to yourself and your crew. Slocum, Lewis, Roth Guzzwell, Shipton, Smeeton Tillman etc refused to carry any life saving device that relied on others to help them.
My comment does not mean dont carry them, just dont rely on them to save you whe
