I am fortunate to learn something today myself.
O scale will benefit if every Engine maker can at least agree on a common format.
DCC is simply a language in binary zeros and ones. On and off. It is beyond the scope of this thread to get deep into it. It is a manner of speaking to a computer on a rail with a signal that can be heard and understood other than more power less power on AC or DC. (I never figured out how the Lionel Hudson's Horn can know when to blow... heh.)
I was two rail and have decided to go with the future dual or tri mode engines from MTH, Lionel and Sunset among others that might be available. I will probably end up running everything at some point. But not all together.
The other consideration is the expense. Older engines are hundreds of dollars and well done when considering what they are in terms of power, traction, "Manners" and intangible enjoyment to the Owner. I hate to consider converting to accommodate any or all the technologies or none. (None to me means ripping out all electronics and running straight DC or AC.)
The center rail does not bother me anymore. I remember even a long time ago when there was third rail outside the two rail O scale. Also recalling what 50 dollars meant in terms of today's money back then when 5 dollars got you a tank of gas.
As others have said, the Hobby is a compromise. Some have gone totally wild tearing out electronics and I may dare say engaging in a side hobby of electronics installing what they want. Others have went ahead and settled on one and some all of them.
The one biggest hang up I suffer is back to basics. That third center rail to me means AC power, something you don't want on a DC engine. When engine makers say they can run either AC or DC, I must think that the computer in the tender runs the AC while the motor runs the DC on command.
I suspect Club activity is what will define O scale into the future. One would like to simply bring a engine to run and not have to worry about this or that or something else. Or going to a friend's house to run two rail or three rail or something else like Radio/Onboard Battery power control. The best solution would be the new engines being made now that can handle anything you throw at em.
I think I also remember when DCC or electronic anything was new some years ago. The magazines filled with a new language that is necessary to understand these things and I was one of the few people who probably viewed it as Boilerplate and discarded them as very dry reading.
It's still new today. Maybe one day it will be simple. Red wire goes here, black wire goes there. Now lets run a train.
