Often LCR’s loose shallow water readings, which is why the old flashers were so dependable. They gave you the instant signal and ability to monitor depth accurately without averaging, that a digital In Dash does. Though the newer LCD units are conversions and software controlled.
The standard Vexilar in dash is still the preferred unit for many hard core anglers, where as it was the 1240A Lowrance, till it was discontinued. They want that ability to glide through a creek and know while putzing along that they have enough depth and have not run aground on a flat.
There could always be a need for in dash flashers like those Vexilars and those original Lowrance units. Or something similar to those units. In dashes were popular when LCR’s like those original X-3, the first Lowrance (X-3), units were designed in the mid 80’s. They were extremely S L O W and you lost bottom frequently. They were succeeded by X4, X5 and etc.
This is also the time that HumminBird followed Lowrance and went to digital units and opted to go to WalMart and Bass Pro to sell HB units at retail. Which is when they listened to the WMT and K Marts and built gimmick units that could be sold for 129.95 at retail. Thus earning their label as a discount retailer product and lower quality. This is where Lowrance created Eagle and placed those units at retail. Leaving Lowrance as a OEM and Marine Dealer only sales outlets. HB is hard firing now to break away from that discount store mentality, and Lowrance units are now in most discount stores and big box retailers.
Also, Old anglers were used to the flashers, and they worked well. Eventually the 3000 and 3100 or 3200 small digital only units were tried as depth only readers, and they were designed where they too provided instant details and only converted the reading to digital without averaging. Though eventually they too changed to try and do more, which required software and engineer out designed the need.
The best unit probably ever produced in a flasher was the Lowrance 2330 and those were spot on accurate. Of course the HumminBird Super 6- was extremely popular as were the 2260 Lowrances. Though with a gimbal on the LCR, you now had two gimbals at the dash. Thus the In Dash became popular so serious anglers could retain that instant accuracy signal. And yes even those wonderful In Dash units lost signal at high speeds.
While LCR’s have developed well, they still loose signal in shallow water applications. If they fix that, then a backup of a digital small depth finder would be trick once everyone figures out we still need a simple depth finder that works only for depth.
BCB
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