All of this conversation is exactly why I'm not forking out any money for a command system until the manufactures get together, if ever, and come up with a "common" operating system so that we the consumers don't get stuck having to buy two systems.
I started to go into HO a couple years ago when I got bitten by the train bug again after many years (all the changes, it was like a whole new hobby). Learned about all the different control systems. My findings were that a full blown, completely wireless remote system in DCC costs about as much (and maybe more) than a Legacy and DCS system combined. They may be standardized, but they sure are expensive! DCC also has some nice features, but seems there is a lot of fiddling to get everything set properly. I suppose all the fiddling provides a lot of flexibility though, so that's probably not all bad.
That was about 3 years ago. My heart was always in O gauge and I just couldn't go the HO route, not to mention I can't see well enough to get the HO stuff on the tracks. I ended up back in O and will soon have both control systems, been waiting on Legacy systems to become available again (been a long dry spell there). I'm probably the odd man out, but I am actually looking forward to having both systems. I think it will make things much more interesting.
Not trying to sway you one way or the other, just my take on having 2 systems. You may have some hope though, all the iphone, ipad, etc apps they are developing might just get them all working on one system (or ipad/iphone) one of these days.
