As an owner of both Garmin and King avionics, let me present another
position on the issue.

First, I think Garmin's assimilation of Apollo/UPSAT demonstrates
exactly where the market is going. I always thought UPSAT had the more
innovative products, and Garmin is retaining the excellent nav/com and
CNX80 for now. But I take issue with the impression that Garmin
supports its legacy products. I purchased the GNS530 four years ago
based upon the promise by Garmin reps at OSH that it would be simple to
provide a WAAS upgrade, and they would continue to improve the
capabilities of the box. I am still waiting for the WAAS upgrade, which
is now at $1500 if you pre-ordered last fall. The Garmin rep at AOPA
yesterday said don't hold your breath. The availability may not be real
until 1Q07. The reality is the vast majority of Garmin's engineering
talent has been focused on integration of the G1000 for the OEMs, and
yes they had some serious hiccups with that program as well. So the
legacy 430/530 fleet can wait, besides they bought the CNX80... And ask
the folks that bought into the GDL-49 fiasco for their opinions of
Garmin. I sure am glad my avionics guy talked me out of that waste of
money. I'll stick with my sub-$1000 non-certified portable NavAirWx XM
receiver, thank you!

I am less than impressed with Garmin's support of their own legacy
product line. When I had an issue with my Mid-Contenent CDI talking
with my 530, Garmin acted as if it were my fault, and there could not
be anything wrong with my 530 - despite the good bench-test on their
rebranded Mid-Contenent instrument.

My old 155 is still plugging along. I have had it worked on a couple
times, but parts are plentiful, and King doesn't play the bull****
'proprietary' game with repair shops that Garmin seems to do.

Having said all that, I think King really needs to get their collective
head out of their arse and build a CNX80-killer. That is the only way
they will gain market share. Replacing legacy avionics in 1950's C-172s
ain't going to sustain any business model I am familiar with unless it
involves money-laundering. Notice Garmin's emphasis on pleasing the
OEMs now that they have firmly established the integrated nav/com/gps
market which really did not exist previously...

I think King could really have a fighting chance if they introduced a
CNX80-killer, provide ample tech support to repair shops without the
'proprietary, send back to Garmin for repair' crap but with an extra
mark-up (make them really easy to repair and maintain), and make
navdata updates on generic SD cards.

At this point, if I ever get around to building a kit, I will be
looking for a Garmin integrated nav/com/gps replacement. Right now
there just isn't anything better on the market, and that is sad. As far
as a box-for-box replacement of the KLN-94, I just don't see a
profitable business case to be made...