Read some of the reviews and you will see this is probably the simplest beacon on the market to use. Extremely straightforward, and you could probably figure out the basics without reading the directions. That being said though, you should read the directions, and you should practice. Practice makes perfect, and you can't settle for anything less in the backcountry. In terms of size, it is a little bit bigger, and bulkier than other beacons on the market, but when actually wearing, you hardly notice it. Especially if you wear it on a regular basis. There's a reason that so many pros use and recreational skiers use this beacon. It's a great value, and super easy to use.

With the exception of the Pieps Freeride, size and weight varies comparatively little across beacons. More important (aside from functionality of course) is whether the harness designs is a good fit for your body and personal preferences. Only way to know that for sure is to try it on.

Yeah absolutely. Ease of use is a huge factor for beacons, and this fits the bill. It is a little large, but I've never had any real issues with the size.