I'm currently using the RFLKT+ with a Wahoo TICKR and Blue SC. The reason for the plus is that when I got it, I was using Garmin Ant+ sensors. The reason for the Wahoo sensors is because they transmit BTLE and Ant+ simultaneously and I can use them on an Ant+ device if I have to. I'm using these on an iPhone 5c, which is optimized for extra battery life. The app I'm using is Cyclemeter, which is only available for iPhone and Apple Watch at this time. I have the Elite version of Cyclemeter which is only $4.95/year rather than per month as other apps charge. It has more features than you'll ever need and more than the other cycling apps I've used before settling on Cyclemeter. It has complete customization for the RFLKT, which some of the apps suggested by Wahoo don't have or have limited customization. It will automatically upload to Strava, Facebook, Twitter and a few others at the end of each ride as well as send you, or anyone else you select, an email with the link to your ride data (kind of like it's own Garmin Connect web site). It also has live tracking, which is good if you are doing charity rides and you want your family to know where you are at. What it doesn't have, and they are working on it, is turn by turn navigation. You won't need to worry about battery life unless you plan on doing a double century, in which case carry a battery charger to charge your battery when you need to. I lose about 10% battery life an hour on my 5c. If I pause Cyclemeter at my rest stops, I use less battery power because the app isn't processing and parsing GPS data.

Issues: I've had the RFLKT+ for over two years. When I first bought it, I was having major issues with it's battery life. Riding between 2 and 4 hours a day, the battery was dying about once a week. Other users were also complaining about poor battery life and the problem was corrected with a firmware upgrade. Since upgrading the firmware, I have been getting about 4 months on one battery. If you don't ride daily, as I do, you'll probably see much better battery life than what I'm getting. The only other issue that I have had with the RFLKT is a very rare disconnect from the phone. This is easy to fix by pressing the top two buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds and resetting the RFLKT. Restart it and you're good to go. The sensors have been working flawlessly and have not given me any problems in the year that I've had them. You will have to download the Wahoo Utility (regardless of which phone you use) in order to update the firmware on the RFLKT and sensors. I check my devices about once a month to see if there are any new firmware updates.

I have been extremely happy with the setup I have and personally see no need to use a Garmin to do the exact same thing I'm doing for twice what I've paid for my setup. The nicest thing I like about my setup is that I don't have to connect to a website in order to see past ride data, charts and maps. They're all in a database on the phone. Cyclemeter also had the most complete and comprehensive sets of statistics than any other app I've seen and beats Garmin stats hands down. I've never had an Android phone so I can't help you with those questions but I hope this answers some of your other questions and addresses some of your concerns. As far as the Cateye Padrone, it's best feature is that you can use it with or without being connected to a phone, but it only works with the Cateye phone app. Topeak's Panobike version of the Padrone works the same way.