Convince me that the MSR Guardian Purifier is really worth it.

I have several problems with the guardian, but maybe someone can convince me that it's actually a smart buy. So I'm going to list my complaints and challenge you to convince me that the benefits outweigh these problems.*1) The expense. At $350 for the unit, plus any accessories you might need, plus $150 for replacement filter cartridges, this is undoubtedly an extremely expensive filter.*2) The weight. At 1Lb 1.3oz this system might be reasonable for home emergency kits or base camp, but for most hikers a whole pound (and then some) is a metric ton. Most hikers I know find ways to shed grams and ounces out of their pack, so a pound is actually quite a lot.*3) The filter itself. Granted, 0.02 micron is a very tight filter indeed. But is it really necessary? You can get a 0.1 micron filter for about $25 and only weighs 2 oz that still gets the vast majority of micro-critters out of your water. Also, they call it a 'purifier' even though it's really a filter. It still will not remove chemicals from those really nasty water sources. Plus, if you're really worried about those micro-critters, you'll have to boil or treat either way.*4) You have to pump by hand. I know this is a bit knit-picky, but when you're tired and dehydrated sitting down to pump your filter for a few minutes feels like an unnecessary waste of energy. Once again, the Sawyer filter can just be hung from a tree and gravity can filter for you while you set camp, rest, or perform any other task. Many people also report that the pumping action becomes more difficult over time because of the self-cleaning mechanism.*5) It's large. Yes, there are larger filters out there, but with a hose and prefilter, this is roughly the size of a nalgene bottle. For most hikers, space is also at a premium and a full liter of space is not insignificant. Again, the Sawyer is a little bigger than a roll of quarters.Now, all that being said, I can see it being good in a few particular conditions. If you have a huge budget and will be setting up a base camp, or will be out for a prolonged trip with other hikers who can spread out the weight, volume and maybe expense. However, most people are day hikers, weekend warriors or maybe even take one whole week on the trails from time to time. I just don't see how the guardian is appropriate for those people. Maybe you can convince me otherwise. http://ift.tt/2gsPVYt