I've been thinking of buying an aviation-specific handheld GPS to
replace the little hiker's model I've been using. NW_pilot's saga has
convinced me that a good unit really can be a life saver.

Any recent pireps on the new models?

Lowrance 600c does seem to give the most performance for the money,
especially for the occasional, casual pilot who isn't going to keep
paying for all those weather services available on a G496.

Please please please, don't anyone chant the consumer mantra "you get
what you pay for." It ain't necessarily so and even it it were, I don't
want to hear it.