Here is my take.
I prefer to control my trains not my track. My first need for command control was with a tiny switching layout.
To accommodate more than one player, I had two choices, either install lots of sections or remove control of at least one loco from the track power. This was pre DCC era and I chose to battery/radio one of my locos.
This enabled me to then have one visitor just operate his/her train without any learning session on my keys up/down switch panel. I could throw all the keys one way and do the same. If there was another experienced operator who wanted to play as well only then did the keys up/down (who's got my train?) process come into play.
As the points were all switched by hand there was also no learning curve for any visitor. This made it a much more pleasant time for all.
When DCC came along I followed the same path. All it takes for anyone to run my trains is to select a loco, input the number on the side of the cab on the throttle and change the points in front of them as they go. The learning curve is minimal.
Full control of sound, lights etc is nice but I can take it or leave it.
Unless a point is hard to access it is manually switched, only three points at the far side of my outdoor loops that are a pain to get to are operated by a CDU and buttons on my outdoor layout. I have had a DCC operated point on a recent indoor layout to save me making another CDU just for one point. All the extra units I once made have ended up on friends layouts. :>
Most of my locos use HO decoders. The track wiring would be the same if the layout was in a smaller scale.
However that said , there are times when asked for advice I have suggested that DCC is overkill for their needs. Typical is the layout owner who simply has trains circulating on several loops and has no desire for sound. The improved slow speed running, the easy speed matching for MU operation and the chance to have radio throttles are not issues for them. Those who only operate one engine in steam and are not interested in sound are also good candidates for just using dc.
I have operated on large layouts with lots of switches for track and points and sometimes signals and I enjoy the challenge, but I realise it is not for everybody.
cheers
BobC
