Posted for "Ridge Dickey" <ridgedickey@hotmail.com>:

Jerry, thanks for the info.  From what little experience Ive had with FAA certified avionics and other systems, I, at an anecdotal level, see no positive correlation between quality or reliability and the fact that the item is certificated.  Performance in the field is the best test.  I believe the spirit of the EAA is innovative experimentation and since we humans don't havfe our own wings, the experimentation requires assuming a great deal of risk to one's life.  I liken it to working for someone else: those who stay on that path have a sense of security, but there is  no security in reality.  What you get for sticking with certificated systems is a sense of security, which isn't there in reality.
Ridge Dickey