An older post brought back to life eight months later, but interesting. However, you mixed the categories. Analog would be a reference to circuitry design, such as Analog Vs Digital, or for some models more of a blended Analog/Digital design with some of the older transition models such as the White's XLT. "Screen Machines" is simply a reference to a category of models that have a Visual Target ID display, from simple to complex. A model that lacks any visual display we often assign to a category often referred to as "Beep-DIG!" because the operator is relying only on the Audio response and Discrimination level, with a simple approach to recover or Dig any accepted target that Beeps. In the end we might select either an Analog or Digital circuitry detector that might or might-not feature a visual display.
I consider the amount and length of time I have been enjoying this great sport, initially and currently for Coin & Jewelry Hunting, but a huge portion of it as a dedicated 'old-site' Relic Hunter, as being well beyond the 'newbie stage.' Through these many decades I have made it a point of interest to learn all I can about newer models that come n the scene, and evaluate their worthiness to fit into my personal detector outfit. Some do, others don't, and all for an assortment of reasons. Since late '71 and early '72 I have always had at least 2 to 4 detectors in my outfit, and since the latter '90s I generally maintain a group numbering six or more, and often more because i will not only own different makes and models, but duplicates of some models just to keep a different search coil mounted.
As an example, as of early this morning my Detector Outfit is made up of:
2- Garrett Apex
1- Makro Racer 2
1- Nokta FORS CoRe
1- Nokta FORS Relic
2- Nokta / Makro Simplex +
1-Minelab Vanquish 540
2- Tesoro Bandido II microMAX
1-Tesoro Silver Sabre microMAX
1- White's XLT
I'll possibly be adding one or more of the six detectors I just bought to do a multi-model product review, and I might thin out one or two from the above list. Note that some of my favorite models are display-less and are in the 'Beep-DIG!' category, while the bulk of the models do feature a visual Target ID display. However, I rely on, or at least take a look at, a visual TID response most of the time when doing any urban Coin Hunting based upon the type of site and the amount of, and type of, modern trash I encounter. When I am Relic Hunting older, out-of-the-way locations, it doesn't matter which particular detector I have in-hand, i am relying on hearing an Audio response and then I take the 'Beep-DIG!' approach to finding and recovering a located target. I seldom glance at the numeric VDI read-out because too many good targets read bad, and too many good targets are masked or partially masked and give errant read-outs, and i know some bad targets are going to display as a 'good' find. Audio is king.
As you see, i also like to have some 'old reliable' detectors on-hand, such as my XLT, that I bought first in June of 1994, and my two all-time favorite Tesoro models that were introduced in October of 1997. The others I have added from January of '15 to just the past month or two, and in every case they have each shown me some in-the-field performance as well as physical design that makes them a 'fit' in my detector group. Since late June I did buy a couple of Vista X models with their smaller 5¾" DD coil, and to be honest I really liked the performance they can provide. However, I let them go mainly because I am so comfortable with my Tesoro's and other units. I just had too many detectors, and health limitations are cutting in to how much detecting time I can put in.
I'm now 71 also, and I have no doubt some folks think my detector selection is a bit 'stale' in their opinion, too. But, like you said, what I have I like and they work for me, and in the end that's what really matters. As for search coils, yes, that can be a different topic. I usually only have 1 or 2 coils I keep for each detector. I mount a preferred coil on each model and seldom swap coils. I simply grab a different detector with the coil I want to use. That's one reason I own two of some models, because I like the detector and keep different coils mounted on similar devices. Just waiting for a smaller-size coil from Garrett and Nokta / Makro for the Apex and Simplex +.
Monte