I have a small layout and the trains
are scheduled by the use of relays
splitting the layout into "blocks".
The blocks are as long as they can.
To ensure the locomotive to stop at
the right place, i.e. near a signal,
and the entire train to be on the protected block,
the power is only switched on a single
track element close to the signal.
There is not enough place to control a slow stopping.
With the analog mode, there is also no need
of a feedback component to know which locomotive
to stop. It's always the one on the switched track element.
And, I was happily surprised to see my latest hobby locomotive
- including a latest generation decoder - performing a slow start
(before reaching a slow realistic maximum speed) in analog mode when the
track element was switched on!!
So, now, I really don't need more.
The old locomotives are still with their native reversing unit relay.
(I like this pinball feel when sending the reversing pulse).
The old reversing unit relays are more reliable than any modern decoder
that cannot resist to shortcuts, power glitches, old
transformers...
The Digital interface will change every year, adding new functions,
needing new components, needing upgrading...
Analog mode will stay the same and will power 50 years old locomotives
without trouble and without surgical operation.
I like to see my locomotives running with their original behaviour.