Okay I admit, it was early in the morning I was at work kind of bored and wondered what would happen if I posted a thread on the "old and classic debate." So have to apologize, and was great that you guys did not bite. I like the direction you have taken the thread.
I have always been a flushing dog hunter but not for lack of trying pointers before...and up until the one I have now the rest were a really BAD experience. So now I have 2 english cockers and 1 griffon, gonna add a lab into the mix next spring (maybe a pointing one?)
Anywho...the GPS collars I agree are a game changer. Since always having a flushing dog in front of me, it was very unsettling to have the dog go out 80-100 yrs. I know not far by pointing dog standard but also hunt primarily in the woods of NW Michigan and the dog is "gone" once out there 25yrs. Especially when the ferns are up and leaves are still on the tree. I even put the collar on my smaller cocker cause she is so damn sneaky and quiet.
The article in Shooting Sportsman by Tom Davis was good and fair regards both types of dogs and basically said what everyone else was i.e. dog type is based hunter preference, what they hunt and where they hunt. But if a hunter was only hunting pheasants vrs other birds it seems the flusher has a slight advantage cause of the running desire of the bird, but the same does not seem to hold true with other birds that run i.e. desert quail. So that puts it all back to square one...maybe the best dog is one of each in your truck. Wish I could post a link to the article but not possible and think they would frown on it being scanned into a post.
I have a Garmin Alpha, anyone out there have the GPS Sportdog equal and if so how do you like it? The Alpha screen is pretty easy to control with gloves on, but I don't think one needs all the whistle and bells on it. Imagine the map may be handy if hunting in the mountains out west, not necessary in MI.