If it worries you, don't carry the PLB. Then you don't have to worry about deciding if you should push the button. I don't carry one... I figure if I die out on a hike I would consider that a better death than the more likely scenarios that will do me in. Plus, I figure the national parks and DNR have better things to spend their money on than pulling my stupid butt off a mountain.

Part of the joy of backpacking is pitting yourself against nature. If you always have an escape button, your not really on your own.

Sorry... maybe not the reassuring post you were looking for. On the flip side, in a true emergency you won't be too concerned about the moral ramifications of activating your PLB