But why not?
First, your review was awesome and I very much appreciate your assistance.
I am a programmer, with an EE degree and spent some years as a network administrator as well. A lot of my interest in HAM at this point is in digital communications (but not solely). I am also a backpacker, frequently up on peaks on the Appalachian Trail where radio reception is more likely to be better than what I have experienced with a cell phone. Put it all together and this HT seems to fit my interests.
The fact that there is no software yet sparks my interest all the more. In college we did a triangulated targeting application using stepper motors from junked typewriters (back when typewriters still existed) and a broken sonar based electronic measuring tape. I have to believe that there are existing automated tracking applications but I wonder if there's anything that works with a handheld radio and an Android phone. I would really like to combine existing SAT tracking software (or libraries), the GPS data, antennae positioning and automated frequency tuning and see what results I can get. I'm probably killing the "analog" experience of swinging one's arms around holding an antennae.
I know, the radio is expensive but experience is priceless. I've researched the Yaesu 8xGr and frankly, the reviews didn't sound inviting to me. Difficult menus, smaller battery, no tnc, etc. The Kenwood sounds like a value in comparison.
I am curious if anything other than the price of this HT is why you would suggest a noob (I'm probably not using the proper HAM slang here) start with something else. It's possible I don't know what I don't know at this point.