Questions about LX 1600

What's been the experience with the LX 1600? As a variometer?: response
time, smoothness, filtering from gusts, averager, etc. Is this a good
primary variometer...or a good backup?

How is it as a component of a system coupled with SeeYou or WinPilot or
flyWithCE? Any preferences/problems with any of those applications? If
the PDA dies, is the LX 1600 still functional using the four push
buttons?

It's set up to couple easily with a Colibri, but has anyone used
another brand of flight recorder? How about a commercial-off-the-shelf
handheld GPS receiver; e.g., Garmin?

Has anyone used the electronic total energy feature? As a backup?

What about reliability? How is the service from LX Navigation
generally? From the U.S.?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.