@BobbyD posted:From what I've seen on friends HO layouts DCC decoders allow them some amazing sound choices. Take for example the Lionel PRR J with the incorrect whistle, no way to correct it. They all admit they don't need 5 or 6, maybe 3 at the most including the correct one.
They also have the capability to speed match with other brands of locomotives. Plus they show up at a friends house who uses a different brand control unit and can still run their trains.
I would simply say that DCC offers different choices than Legacy rather than more or less. DCC allows for more assignments by the user to do things like control ditch lights, strobes, turning on or off the cab lights or class lights while running, and the there are now more and better sounds available than anything in 3 rail. I think the universal aspect of the open architecture of DCC encourages innovation rather than forcing someone into a brand.
At the same time, it does require more knowledge by the end user as you must program the values if you want something above and beyond what comes out of the box. Also, not all DCC decoders are created equal so more research is required to determine what decoder has the features you want.
As to the OP, I have never subscribed to the sky is falling attitude. This has always been a changing and evolving hobby with more options now than ever in the past. Think how lucky we are to have a such broad history of trains new and second hand to select from with the features or details that interest us.
