First off...
MB,
Unless you have something constructive to add to this thread, pipe down. I think we all know what your feelings are about SRT. I'm getting really weary of your sniping every time SRT comes up. This is what I'm referring to when I talk about civility. If you're just trying to up your message count, why not do it in another thread or forum.
Now, onto the subject at hand.
There isn't a lot that I can add to what has been said. The concerns that've been raised are valid. I like the oranges and tangerines analogy.
SRT has been a progression for me. Starting with choking my climbing rope with a running bowline to my TIP. As I moved along I realized that this had limitations. My goal has been to push SRT along and eliminate or reduce any limitations.
Like others have said, using it for ascent first and then gradually start to use it for working will lead to more use. I think that more climbers would use SRT if they were like Carl. Starting with a fresh plate and no bias towards either DdRT or SRT I think that an open-minded climber would tend to SRT. This is a nature or nurture test. Maybe I can get a grant to study this
Any friction system can be used at the base. Heck, a Munter works fine. I use a Gri Gri because I think it solves the problem better than any other device, that's all. IF there is a concern that the anchor might be bumped, the line can be redirected out the other side of the TIP and down to another anchor point. I always hard lock the line over the top of the Gri Gri.
Nick gave some good focus to finding a different climbing hitch. I'm sure there's one out there. I didn't go that route because I like the performance of the tools. I could see taking a side step and seeing what comes up though. Too bad I'm not climbing a lot this time of year.
If a rescue is needed, sure, an SRT climber with a lanyard would still need a climber to come up. But, if they were able to unlanyard themselves, the rescue could then be groundbased. If not, the patient is in no worse shape than a DdRT climber. Actually, a rescue might be a little easier having the patient in SRT. If there were a third, the climber would be able to just control the movement of the patient and the groundie would take over the lowering. This would take a lot of the jostling out of the rescue. Frees up the rescue climber to do other things besides tend to a climbing hitch.
Keep tossing things out here. You guys are coming up with some nuances that I movec past or haven't considered because of my thought processing.
Tom