@Mzokk said:
The main reason I've ended up here is the disappointing software provided for the XT (Explore) by Garmin and the change to its routing algorithm which meant, that compared to the old devices, what you produced on Basecamp bears little relation to what you get on the XT unless you "pin" the route with lots of shaping points. I'm pretty happy with the MyRoute app routing program and navigation app with the exception of POI and track handling capabilities. But at least with phone based navigation you are not restricted to Garmin's poor software offering. A lesson I hope they learn before its too late.
Wow, that's quite a collection of devices. Very nice.
Overall, your reasoning is fair. I personally did not enable Explore for either my XT or XT3 due to the disaster it creates for most users. It does nothing for you unless you want to buy into Garmin being an ecosystem across its devices. "Pinning" lots of shaping points is something I'm used to anyway since I lead rides and distribute GPX files to the other riders. You never know the routing preferences set up on other devices, so overloading shaping points is an absolute requirement.
MRA Routeplanner is the best route creation SW out there. I'm OK with BC, and it's remarkably capable for what it is. But Web based technology makes BC largely obsolete. The MRA Phone navigation piece?? I've tried to like it, but it doesn't speak to me the way an XT device does. It's another subject, but for me, phone HW isn't built for reliability in hot climates. I live/ride in the USA southwest, where phone overheating while running navigation is almost guaranteed 3-4 months of the year. Aside from phone HW limitations, an XT device is more capable than phone navigation SW at many levels. Again, another subject. What struck me most when going from my XT to an XT3 are the improvements to 3D Terrain map. The rendering is eye popping. It's looks like viewing from a Drone when riding through mountains and canyons. It's hard going back to the XT much less the MRA phone map.
Having said all this, I get that we all have different criteria and therefore end up with different setups. And there is nothing wrong with that.