@MTH RD Hi Jon, I have a question. First good luck with your new company. Now my question.
When it comes to rolling stock, I will happily purchase, MTH, Atlas and Lionel and I enjoy seeing that the latest custom run newsletter to see what's new from MTH. Why am I comfortable buying rolling stock from three different companies? Because the rolling stock all play together nicely.
Locomotives are a different situation. For one, they represent a significant investment compared to rolling stock so I of course have to be more selective with my purchases. Right now all of my locomotives are Lionel legacy. I have ten of them with two more on order. Why do I stick to Lionel? Primarily because I like the simplicity of having one command control system. I know that many people have both and if it works for them fine. For me, having more than one system on my layout is a level of complexity that I am not interested in. It is a real barrier for me to use my limited locomotive budget on a $500 to $600 locomotive that I would have to run conventionally like it's 1950.
So my question is: As Lionel develops the Base 3 and CAB-3 app is there anyway to develop the technology so that I will be able to operate an MTH locomotive with the CAB-3 app without a full on DCS system? If there is an obstacle to this is it technical? Or is it a proprietary issue in that neither Lionel nor MTH will not allow this capability? I would be far more open to purchasing an MTH locomotive if I could run it with the CAB-3 app right out of the box.
For everyone else reading this. This is sincere question. I'm not trying to play stump the chump or start an emotional argument. 
