What are the five "good technical reasons" you are referring to? Here's what I can come up with...
- Folks that are disabled or vision-impaired have a hard time reading small text on phones (and yes tablets too).
- Folks with essential tremor have a difficult time with touching "virtual buttons" on screens.
- Someone calls my phone and now I can't stop my train that is maybe going to fast unless
- Maybe I want to take photos or video of the train without having to task switch (personally I set my phone on a stand sometimes when I do this, so it makes switching back to "train control mode" cumbersome (at best).
- Eyes on screen instead of on trains
- Touchscreen controls cannot approach the fidelity you get with physical sliders and momentary switches
- Using apps puts Lionel (and MTH) at the whims of the app store owners and phone manufacturers (try getting software that ran on an older version of Windows or MacOS working on a modern computer
- Using apps requires that I have "app store" accounts and hand over private data to Apple and/or Google
- In the case of Bluetooth, the range is fairly limited and works inconsistently
We'll call it 8.5 reasons both systems support WiFi in lieu of Bluetooth.
1. Speaking of small screens that are hard to read, the DCS remote and CAB2 leave a lot to be desired. I mean the resolution is comparable to that of Gameboy from 1988. Not to mention a back light that washes out the LCD and makes harder to read. I have a hard time reading my DCS remote sometimes as my eyes aren't what they use to be and never did memorize all of the 3 letter acronyms for the soft keys. The app on the other hand uses larger text, color, icons & graphics, easy to read fonts, and all of the features are fully spelled out. My device of choice right now is a Motorola XT907 with a 4.3" screen. Oddly enough, that tiny little screen is easier to read than my DCS remote and ALL buttons and functions are backlit because they are all on an HD backlit screen that automatically dims according to lighting conditions. Plus it fits in my shirt pocket.
2. There is an older member in our train club that has Parkinson's and operating the remotes with their tiny buttons is extremely difficult, let alone holding them like we do. The app with larger buttons (on a 11 inch tablet) and the use of a weighted stylus has been much easier for him to use. Before the apps, he was limited to conventional operation only. His tremors are controlled with the stylus and the first time he enjoyed command control was with an app. He tried with before with a DCS remote and dropped it. At the time, the remote only cost $160 to replace but the tablet he was using cost about $45. I assure you that Smart devices have way more ADA compliant technology incorporated in them vs. any of the train remotes.
3. Go buy an extra used older smart device on eBay, they are certainly cheaper than any train remote made past, present or future. $20 will easily get you a nice phone or tablet made in the last 10 years that can run any of the popular train control apps (hopefully this applies to the new CAB3 app). If someone calls me on my phone while my train is going too fast, I ignore the call on my phone and use my dedicated device to slow the train down. Once everything on the table is running comfortably for me, I'll pick up my phone and answer if it's still ringing and if it's someone I want to talk to.
4. Switching between the camera app and my train apps are pretty easy to do. Multi-tasking is a core feature of smartphones. My dad is 83 and uses his smartphone with multiple apps (including running trains) and takes calls without issue. Then again old/used smart devices are cheap.
5. The CAB2 and DCS remotes both have screens you need to look at too. Only the most basic of functions can be performed without looking or one handed. Lionel has already implemented voice control (still needs some improvement) which requires no screen or any device in your hands. The quickset speed feature on the DCS app is way easier to use than that of the remote. I can get six consists started from a dead stop to running speed much faster in the DCS app than I ever could with the remote.
6. Yes touchscreens don't provide tactile feedback, neither does the touchscreen on the CAB2. It has a grid but unlike the "F" and "J" keys on a keyboard, there no way to "feel" where your fingers are orientated on that screen without looking at it. The Cab1 and DCS remotes require you to look at them when using the number pads, muscle memory is no good when all the buttons feel the same and there are no braille indicators to help you orientate your thumb to a "home" position without looking. I have shown that it is possible to add (more usable) tactile buttons everyone misses to an app based device through add-on gaming hardware. Now instead of a "one size fits some" remote, you can choose the screen size you want, the game controller with button layout you want, and assign those buttons any feature you want. IT'S FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE. I would love to swap some functions around on my CAB1 remote but we all know that's impossible to do. Now if the app developers would make the screens in their apps customizable...
7. Yes & no. I'll speak for google on this one, Apple products are not something I deal with regularly. Google doesn't specifically restrict apps to a certain minimum requirement of Android OS version. MTH & Lionel can both make their apps available for older devices, if THEY choose to do so. Google won't tell them "no dice" for app that still supports something as old as Android 4.4, that's up to Lionel, MTH or whomever develops an app to support that older equipment. The current release of the DCS app will still run on Android 4.1 from 2012, the Lionchief app would too if Lionel did some bug fixes to it.
8. If security is such a big concern, go make up a google account just for your train controlling device. Use a fake name when creating the account. If the app needs an in-app purchase to upgrade, put on a disguise, take a bus to Wall-mart, buy a google play card (pay cash), and use it to purchase the upgrade. Keep in mind you have already given google and apple more information about yourself than you already know. If you have WiFi at home and you let anyone with a device developed by Google, Apple, Microsoft, or Amazon connect to it... they are collecting information about you, your network and the devices attached to it.
9. Bluetooth has excellent range, If it is implemented properly. Lionel's first generation of Bluetooth has low output power, and terrible antennas which contribute to its mediocre performance. Dave Olsen has assured us that newer locomotives and the BASE3 have greatly improved range. I have Bluetooth devices that are almost 20 years old now that easily make 500 feet of range LOS, and half that with obstructions in the way.