I do all my editing on a 5K Mac which I was calibrating monthly. However I like to sync my favorites to my iPhone and iPad to carry around to share with people. I was frustrated because the phone and pad images never matched what I was seeing on the Mac post edit. Of course not because the Mac was calibrated while the phone and pad were not. So I went back to the "standard" iMac profile provided by Apple, and images on all 3 devices now match well. So for all imaged I want to sync with my iPhone and iPad, I do not edit with a "calibrated" Mac. I use the standard profile. However for those infrequent times I wish to print, I do edit those images with a monitor calibrated to the printers instructions.

rpavich, I think your first answer that you think it is cool is what it boils down to. What your answer and the next two posts lack are specific artistic or technical reasons. Even with those and even if they were true, you can do whatever you want. That is ok with me. What loses me is the absence of any clear reasoning.

I shot 6x6 for most of my film days: Ricoh, Yashica, and finally Mamiya. When the god Photos was beneficent to me, I got wonderful prints which I have to this day. Film and especially the darkroom gave you a lot of pride in your work. No matter how you slice it, digital and contemporary gear are different but the pride I take in my work is the same and the results are better technically. LR lets me do things that I did not do in the darkroom. Nonetheless, do what you like and enjoy.

I have a suggestion for a new discussion group: film and paper photography. And the first post should compare analog and digital along side each other in a properly controlled test environment. Let us see what the real differences are. Any takers?

Personally I've never thought a camera need an aftermarket grip. When using lenses that are big and heavy enough to need help they are provided with a lens mount. What needs the grip is the lens, at least that's been my experience.
I made this inexpensive wooden hand grip. I've seen commercially made plastic supports as well.
Bigger lenses are very hard to hold by the tripod foot. This makes my lenses with a tripod ring easy to hold by hand all day. The camera takes care of itself!
Anyway, it's what works for me!!!
SS

I buy grips for my camera's, but I buy the OEM grips. While they may be priced higher, they fit perfectly and are quality. I have had several cheap knockoffs and each had quality issues as well as electronic issues on my Nikon. I ended up with a nice Nikon OEM grip that went for $200.00, cost of my D7100 was $1200.00 (15% roughly) when I switched to a Canon 80D, I did not hesitate to pick up the correct OEM grip for it at a cost of 169.00. Roughly 14% of the camera body cost, but same quality.

I prefer a grip to double battery life and provide a larger easily grip-able camera that fills my hand - a Man's camera

I would always recommend going with the OEM grip, yes, they are more expensive then the knockoffs, but they are also top quality inside and out in my opinion.

I have been to all the countries you have mentioned with in the last 10 years, and have always used my Canon DSLR ( ranging from 40D-5DM3-5DM4, depending on which year I went.) I have never had any issues with feeling uncomfortable with the equipment I brought. The only issue I had was weight of my camera bag when flying with in Mongolia. The solution was a jacket with lots of pockets, that I could put various lenses into so that I could reduce the weight of the bag until I got thru security, and then re pack my camera back pack. Be sure to check carry on restrictions for internal flights within each of those countries, so that you are prepared. I would never ship any of my camera gear under the plane.