As mentioned in the tech whore thread, I have amended my gadget geekery. I don't need fly over mapping of my runs. I do however, require accurate distance recording. I started getting frustrated with my GPS not getting a good signal in the woods (resulting in a poorly managed trail half marathon based on perceived distance run...could have finished at least 10-15 mins faster had I known my actual distance in the back half of that race, but I digress) and with the battery failing to hold a charge after barely a year of use. Turns out it would cost about 60 bucks for Garmin to fix the battery. Shine that. I returned it to REI and got the FR70 heart rate monitor (I had asked for a hrm strap for christmas to go with my 110) and ordered a footpod online for 30 bucks. a calibrated footpod will give me accurate pace and distance regardless of overhead conditions. And no sitting there waiting for it to catch a signal. hit start and go. still have copious amounts of data to pore over (now with HR data, which I had been missing for the past year). bonus points for a replaceable watch battery that I can get at any drug store for 3 bucks.
TL, DR: ditched GPS, still gathering geeky amounts of data more simply. Oh and footpod works easy peasy for me cuz, well, I wear shoes.