Thanks for the replies. A few more clarifications...
Scenario 1
Assuming I ONLY have a VP2 ISS and want to view my data across the internet, I would have to have the Envoy ($175) + WeatherLink IP "Data Logger" ($295)?
Where does the "premium" $3.95/mo. subscription fit into the equation? Would I be able to view ALL of my data without such a subscription?
Where does the "need" for a PC fit in this scenario?
Scenario 2
Let's say I have a full-blown VP2 package, ISS + console. To view my data across the internet, I'd have to purchase the WeatherLink IP "Data Logger" ($295) & essentially tether the VP2 console to my router via RJ45?
Again, where does the "premium" $3.95/mo. subscription fit into the equation? Would I be able to view ALL of my data without such a subscription?
Again, where does the "need" for a PC fit in this scenario?
I can't help but feel like I am dealing with a company from 2003 when looking at this stuff. What they're offering seems tremendously expensive, complex, and dated for 2018. For example, I recently purchased a security camera bundle from Costco for $250. It included a 2 TB hard drive that could stream video to an app on my phone anywhere in the world at no additional cost as soon as something triggers any of the cameras. The mobile application needed some polishing, sure, but it worked fantastically well & reliably for the price.
$295 for the dongle + WeatherLink?? Another thing I don't understand. Taking the $10 (at worst) dongle out of the equation, there are far more complex applications on the market available at far less cost.
From what I've seen so far, Davis ought to be concerned, if it isn't. The # of people in the prosumer market who are willing to put up with this amount of research will continue to decline. Even understanding all of this is an unreasonable amount of work. If Acurite finally manages to release a reliable & accurate Atlas Elite with a console that basically does all of this for you via Wi-Fi, why go through the burden & cost of setting up a Davis station?
I hope someone can help me understand because I fancy what they have to offer, but I'm feeling quite turned-off by the whole thing at the moment.