My SPOT was gifted to me from my in laws when I went off grid for a significant time. I pay for service. They bought the device. They like knowing their son-in-law and father of their grand kids is safe and has a slightly better set of options for rescue if **** hits the fan in the backcountry.

It's since been used to track randonneuring events, monitor my wife in a marathon so my kids and I could be at the finish to meet her, and used in general when I go out where cell service disappears.

I can choose to share the web address of my share page with anyone I want. So I'm not broadcasting my location to everyone on the web. Just those I want.