Hiking alone is not about cheating death anymore than solo climbing is. Its is rather about living beyond normal experience and taking in nature on natures terms, which means you are both mortal and a visitor. I don't carry a cell phone or PLB in my everyday life and I don't carry one hiking or climbing or backpacking, instead I rely on my self to not mess up. Maybe the problem is lack of self confidence or not enough self disipline, but to me solo wilderness travel means spending time with the Jim that is infinitely careful and aware of his surroundings and extremely careful, and I like that guy, and I trust him.
Jim