@H1000 posted:They do it in other scales, so why not O? Using an open standard like DCC and incorporating it into your electronics allows you to choose the system you want and run trains from any manufacturer because you would then be using a true universal communication standard.
'O' Gauge, i.e. 3-Rail, and 'O' Scale, i.e. 2-Rail Scale, are not the same thing. They were and still are very different markets. Lionel and MTH did not want customers running trains from other manufacturers. Together dominating the 'O' Gauge market, but totally uninterested in 'O' Scale, they were in a position to dictate terms. That's exactly what they did. This strategy worked marvelously for them back then.
@H1000 posted:Calling Lionchief, Legacy/TMCC, and DCS compatible with each other is a bit of a misnomer. While they can all share the same power source, you must purchase "handshaking" equipment to get them to function together within the same environment from the same controller.
No it's not. Set your trains on the track, turn on the power, grab their respective hand controllers and go. They can be on the same track fed by the same power. I'd call that compatible.
Yes there are some of us who want it all controllable from one remote, but it's not nearly everyone. In your opinion what is the percentage of us for which this is a "must have" feature? (We'll probably disagree on this.)
Unfortunately all of this is water under the bridge. If you want to use DCC go ahead an retrofit all of your 'O' Gauge stuff. However, even if we're master tinkerers most other 'O' Gaugers won't do that unless there's no other choice (which may come to pass at some point despite our best efforts).
The 'O' Scalers already have their equipment fitted to their heart's content, very likely from the beginning.
Mike
