Diane, I shoot with (relatively) older cameras and mostly older lenses. I needed to revisit your OP and see if I could determine the original idea. Most of what I have to 'say' on UHH is sarcastic support of the truthiness of most of UHH's fundamental ideas, especially that new cameras make for better photos and better photographers.

But, your topic and decision 'drivers' really doesn't match the loaded words of your post title. Yes, I recognize we can't go back and re-write aspects of UHH posts after the initial hour. My understanding of your post and subsequent discussion is a need to select new (different) equipment that 'better' matches your physical abilities and evolving desires on how to enjoy both travel and your photography while traveling. I've encountered some of the same questions in my own travel and photography decisions.

Although I haven't purchased a new digital (nor film) camera body in now 8-years, I can see how the new releases across the industry continue to expand the many and varied options of how to generate awesome images in a personally (individually) enjoyable method.

I also enjoy yanking the chains of a wide swath of the UHH population who are clearly threatened by new mirrorless technology, especially those who deny -- against all visual and anecdotal evidence -- the superiority of even the entry-level MILC models. In my oddball way, I'm supporting the results of your journey into mirrorless. And, I look forward to the results.

With so many people posting the question of whether it's worth it to buy into a new camera system, I thought I'd add my two cents worth on how I arrived at my own decision. I have gone kicking and screaming into all new technology, and DSLR to mirrorless is no exception. I have loved my D750's and been very happy with the handling and image output. BUT, my photography is limited to trips once or twice a year by plane into areas where blowing sand seems to be the norm...so, no changing lenses in the field for me! As a result, I have traveled with two camera/lens combos for years. Age has caught up with me and I just can't handle the weight (or bulk) of carrying a lot of gear through the airports anymore. Remembering how much fun travel with the D5300 (APS-C) and the popular 18-200mm lens was years ago, Nikon's Z24-200mm lens got stuck on my radar as a possible solution to a lighter travel option. Having gotten spoiled to full-frame, I decided the Z5 (well suited for landscape photography) with that lens was worth the headache of learning the new menu and operation, and I bit the bullet. For me, staying with a familiar Brand and researching performance reviews of the equipment until I found what satisfies my shooting style, has produced a package that weighs less than half what I had been carrying and takes up a third of the space in my carry-on at the airport, and, with IBIS plus VR, requires less need of the tripod. Plus, I won't set off on foot, only to realize I have the wrong focal length lens with me and have to return to the car to change out my combo. (I did also purchase the FTZii lens adapter, though, in order to still have access to my primes for special events like shooting the Milky Way, etc.) But the icing on the cake, is that I discovered I could get surprisingly good (printable) images from my Galaxy S24+, so now I am all set to travel light for my next photography trip and be ready to grab whatever pops into view. Now, if the weather just cooperates, lol!