Darn you guys are making me feel old! I got my start when my Dad gave me an old Hallicrafters S38E that I listened to the world with, and my first amateur setup was a National HRO 50T1 ("Table Model") for RX and a Heathkit Marauder for TX. Also fiddled around with CB in my early teen years. Now I'm an extra with too much equipment and own a 2 meter repeater as well.
Whenever communications comes up in an emergency or disaster scenario, people seem to think they have a plug and play that works like a telephone, rather than it is a new tool they must first learn to use. For CB's I usually recommend the Midland or Cobra "Emergency" CB's, as they are made to be simple to use. If someone gets one and after a while decides it has shortcomings for them then they have an idea of what they want or need. Otherwise it is like trying to suggest a gun to someone who has never shot a firearm in their life and don't really have an idea of what they'll use it for. And that's my 2 cents on the topic.