396 plus COM or GNS x30???

Hi all,

I was a lurker of these groups for some time, before asking my first
question not too long back on a COM issue I was/am having. Since then,
I have tried to stay active in keeping up on the posts and have tried
to add input, where I think I can add value, but I am well aware of how
subjective that is... ;-)

I am getting familiar with the regular posters and have found great
benefit in hearing some of the discussions on a lot of interesting
topics. The hot topic these days seems to be tne Garmin 396!

I have a very low-end IFR setup, and have only 1 COM, which currently
is giving me fits! Not having a back-up (other than the handheld) is
driving me crazy. I've been drooling over the GNS 430 for a couple of
years now, mostly because it would provide me with a secondary COM and
it would give me (in my understanding) legal IFR DME, which is another
valuable tool I'm lacking in my plane.

Like so many others, I don't have money to burn, so I spend more time
dreaming and planning, than I do actually making things happen, but I
would be more willing to find a way to make the money work, if I could
actually stabalize on "one" good plan in the first place!

So I started thinking.... (no wise cracks please) Portable handheld
with the many wis-bang features that it does have (downloadable Wx,
terrain display, etc.) and take the difference and put it towards 2nd
COM and possibly DME (for shooting those DME required approaches)
OR.... Panel mount with built in COM, legal DME and do Wx and terrain
planning the hard way???

Other benefits to the handheld are using it in the car, just watching
Wx at home (for fun), identifying the hot fishing spots on Eagle Lake
and being able to get back to them quickly... ;-)

I guess I'm asking the "what would you do?" question? How valuable is
a certified, panel mounted, IFR GPS, vs. the handheld with all of it's
really cool capabilities???

Keep in mind my parameters a (current configuration)
1. Single COM (assume it's operable...;-)
2. No DME
3. Standard DG
4. Two VOR's (only one with glide-slope)
5. Other "basic" components, required for IFR flight

Thanks in advance for any input or discussion!

Best Regards,
Todd