I always loved how those cameras work but man they are sure finiky and complicated to run. I guess there not for the average Joe.
I would say this. There is no camera more reliable or with a longer life-span. If you use them in SD mode, operation is as simple as any other camera. When you take advantage of the wireless features, things become more difficult, not because of the camera or design it is because of the physics associated with RF transmission.
You are probably right when you say that are not for the average Joe, simply because the average Joe doesn't need reliability or longevity. They just want to see what is out there for hunting. These cameras are a fit for folks who need reliability. If you are doing a research project and the project collapses because of camera failures you've got a problem. If you are collecting hard data for QDM like I am where you need to trend data over many years, having cameras that run 24/7/365 becomes important.
When it comes to wireless (just for hunting), you have two options. You can pay a monthly fee for someone else to do the work and use the cell phone network. Towers are tall and the frequencies are different so vegetation is generally not a big issue. Either you've got a signal or not. If not, there is nothing you can do. With the BEC cams, you can have a high up-front cost to get good connectivity depending on your topography and vegetation, but once you get it setup, there are no recurring costs except replacing a $20 battery every year or two.
Like most things, it is fitting the tool, technique, or method to your situation and objectives.
Thanks,
Jack