I've had 2 drones, toys compared to DJI products, yet 4K camera's and GPS - so somewhat decent 'toys'. I returned the first after 3 days (a present for Christmas from my kids) as the charge time was 300+ minutes between flights. I bought the second and flight time was too short - 6-7 minutes in Colorado (thinner air = less flying time), then returned it after 3 days. During the return time and waiting for credits back to my account so I could buy Drone #2, I did a lot of research. It quickly became discouraging to see where I could not fly! All the ad's, by the beach, riding a bike out in the desert, showing remote cliffs and great scenery - all nice, but not realistic for many. Look at most YouTube videos, shot in an isolated location - not by accident, but that's the only place you can take video without being hassled. I then sought out a few in Colorado that have Mavic's - or any type of drone. They confirmed the limited places to actually fly drones - they too were discouraged by the lack of nice areas to film. As I have flown R/C planes and Helicopters for years, I REALLY wanted to get a nice drone, and take cool video - then I thought more, and the editing time involved, and just overall time needed with the risk of people worried about seeing a drone in the air, near them, and general perception of something flying / hovering over "their" airspace - and what was I going to do with my video when done shooting; post a neat video to my YouTube account? Heck' who's really going to look at it? I could tell my friends, my family, and I'd get 25 'hits' or views. Really, at the end of the day, who cares. I then talked to my wife about drones a bit, and it seems to be a binary opinion - she does not want to see any drone fly over her / the house / her car, ... and I said, "the drone is not looking at you, who cares about what you are doing - it's not taking video of you".. and she just stuck to her guns, "I just feel uncomfortable about seeing a drone fly over my head" (or within her view when she is out). While I thought a limited viewpoint, we all have to take into account there are people like this.
Statements like this (above): "Kinda explain to him what you just explained to us. If that doesn't work, ignore him and keep flying." DO NONE OF US any good - it just means the person will report to police or some other authority and more laws / restrictions will be put in place to prevent flying in even more places. My research found more and more city counsels / governments are placing restrictions on drones and flying within city limits. Hey, I don't like it any more than you, but at least acknowledge it's happening.
So, for me, and as much as I don't really like my decision, as I really (again) wanted a nice drone to play with, I've decided not to get a drone as I would push the limits and always be looking over my shoulder. It's a good decision for me. I see many drones for sale, and foresee more and more pilots being discouraged by the lack of hassle-free flying areas. DJI just opened a store in Colorado, they (and about every article I read about drones) are doing and injustice to many not educating potential owners on the pitfalls of drown ownership. There will be many more drones for sale as owners find out how inconvenient it is to fly where ever you want.
While we all have some sort of passion for flying, I will suggest you look into Radio Control planes or helicopters. Both are challenging (no RTH or hands off hovering), you control it from takeoff to landing. Yep, you need and AMA membership, which provides $1M insurance, and costs about $75 a year and you'll need to join a local club ($50/year about) to fly at your local site, but you are then among many that enjoy the same thing you do. You could fly a drone there too, but not much interesting to take video of as most flying sites are out in the middle of no-where, yet nice facilities - paved 600' long runways, shade, bathrooms, BBQ and flying events you can enter if you want.
I hope someday I get a nice drone and have a beautiful place to fly it - but for now, there are too many restrictions and flying at the same local park over and over again makes no sense to me.
Scott
"Must Have" Drone Contracts: Protect Yourself Before You Fly. By Timothy Brazzel.
Wanting to buying a DJI Avata 2 Combo where are the best places.