I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.

I read over their product page and, like always, I'm absolutely amazed that these things exist now and can capture such amazing video and photography at their price point. I'd love to get one to use.

But I won't buy one, because every time I go out now to the beach or on a hike, I see people with things like these and I just cannot stand them. I hate the ridiculous noise, I hate the fact that these people are filming things in the middle of streets and sidewalks and trails and generally putting themselves in the center of everything and inconveniencing everyone else just to 'get their shot'. I hate the idea that I am potentially being filmed by some random kids with a high speed camera on the drone hovering out over the park bench I'm resting on.

And because I hate these things, I will not buy one, because I do not want to turn into the annoyances that I feel, no matter how cool the tech looks.

That... or... I'm secretly afraid that I'd buy it and not actually have anything cool to film and it'd sit in a closet and be another $800 paperweight device.

But let's go with not wanting to be an another annoying 'Main Character Syndrome' person and just be quiet and peaceful when out and about.

Walked down the edge of canyon in Jasper National Park today and you had to wade through people taking pictures (admittedly, myself among them). What is the difference between someone taking a selfie with a phone and photos at 50 spots along the edge of the canyon, and someone flying a drone at that point?

You can compare it to people breathing and someone lighting a cigar in a crowded restaurant. Both inhale and exhale, but it is not the same.

The phone doesn't make noise, and cannot fly everywhere around in a 2km radius. The phone owner has to walk there. So if you go hiking in places where fewer people go, then you get fewer tourists. Probably you don't want to get drones there (I don't).

The noise.

Others might say that drones are a sensible and respectful way to honor a beautiful landscape.

Mini 2's are quiet enough and much of the hostility against their use is rooted in prejudice and a little bit of hysteria.

From a human's perspective maybe, from bird's though, not.

Are the hikers considered intrusive, or just the drones?

You'll hear plenty of hikers complain about hikers if they are also creating unwanted noise (usually from portable bluetooth speaker).

Even sometimes it's annoying to be near hikers who just speak loudly. Sometimes you just want to be in the nature and enjoy it quietly :-).

Some places you have to apply for a permit (few of which are issued) to make sure there aren't too many hikers at once. So I think it's both.

screw the drone, anybody know what the motorized surfboard things are?

Called an efoil, they also have non electric versions that are much cheaper

The ones in the video don't seem to have a foil and look more like electric jetboards.

do they have ICE versions of these or do you mean towed only or the wind powered ones?

I do not think that there are ICE versions. But there are many different versions by now, including pump foil (just up-and-down body motion), SUP foil (with paddel), surf foil (wave), wake foil (towed behind boat, but able to let go and just surfing on the boats wave), wing foil (inflatable sail that you hold in your hand, the most popular version) and versions for kite and wind surfers. All are currently significantly cheaper than eFoil (starting around 1k compared to 5k for eFoil) but mostly more challenging, in good sense and bad sense. Some people have said that you learn how to eFoil in 30min. Then the battery is empty. But that is okay as by that time it becomes boring. Which is different to all the other foil sports (exept maybe wake) were most need ~10h to even achive small steps forward. But once you manage, basically every body of water becomes a surf spot.