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But when the questions started, I was a bit taken aback.  There were just a couple about gear.  Then the main questions were along this line:  "What was the scariest moment you ever had on a canoe trip?"   "What would you do if you had an emergency?"  "Aren't you afraid to be up there where there is no help?", etc.   They are mainly a senior age group, and they think we are crazy.

My late Mother was a very adventurous person while I was growing up, but I noticed as she aged and started developing physical infirmities, she became much less so.

Maybe it was all the doom and gloom news stories she watched 24/7, but she was worried about things that are so low on the list of things that could go wrong on a daily basis, it drove me crazy.

I see it now with my aging friends. I go most places alone and they just think I'm crazy as hell for doing so.
Like you, I think the drive up/back is the most dangerous part of any trip.

Still, if a SPOT/SAT gives you peace of mind in your situation, then you should do what makes you feel better 8-)