This topic seems to have been pretty well covered in multiple pages with most posts boiling down to personal preference. Regardless; I’ll add my 2 cents.
I’ve got one DCS remote (upgraded to v6.10) that I use no more than once or twice each week (“and only on Sunday” 😉) with the majority of my train running being handled from either my old iPhone 6 or my newer XS. In fact; the old 6 is exclusively used for running trains and is kept on my transformer stand next to the DCS remote.
Insofar as MY personal preference; I do like the tactile feel of the thumb wheel, whistle and bell buttons and direction control when using the remote. On the other hand; the more I use my iPhones to run trains, the better I’ve become at “knowing” where the horn button is without looking and I don’t need to use direction control as an emergency stop when I have an “oh s@@t” situation as a simple thumb bump to the lower left of the speed gauge will drop the speed to zero.
As a few others have posted, I’ve also found the iPhone easier to use when modifying the identity of an engine and when switching back and forth when operating multiple trains. Moving engines between active and inactive is also a snap using the iPhone.
I think MartyR has shown some entrepreneurial spirit though! He’s got me thinking about conducting a raffle for my DCS remote with the winner being notified upon my death. I’m thinking $25 a chance might be a nice round number. 🤔😁
Curt
