In reply to UKC Articles:
Firstly, isn't that just a Mammut Smart device with a facelift? Which part of that facelift makes it cost twice as much as a Smart device?
Secondly, rightly or wrongly, i'd get kicked out of my local wall if I took in slack like that, the one thing that was drummed into me when I learned to climb was "don't let go of the dead rope", it's a pretty failsafe way of not dropping someone, regardless of the belay device.
In fact I will go for a thirdly too, the marketing bumf says " the braking hand never has to leave its position on the Ergo Belay System" even though he clearly moves his hand away when taking in slack?
I'm not so much complaining (although i'm doing a passable impression of it, I admit) as genuinely confused, what is unique about it, why is it so expensive and should you really take in slack like that on a friction locking device?