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Simple question, complex answer. From a radio perspective, it is completely compatible. That means you could transmit on that radio, and be heard on a GMRS radio, and vice versa. However, that radio is not specifically approved for use on GMRS. How you feel about using a non-approved radio is up to you. I will not go into that discussion here because it has been covered many times on this forum.

Please advise: What is the proper procedure for one licensed GMRS user to call another when both have licenses? In other words, I am new, what is the proper way to call another licensed user? Do I say xxxx123 to xxxx321, Michael to John, or radio check? What is the proper procedure to call a known person, or an unknown person, i.e. "Hey, is anyone using this frequency?" Please don't respond with jargon or abbreviations, I am new and have no idea what a "travel tone, PL, off-set," or any of the other terms bantered about are on this site... hopefully, I'll learn them shortly, but for example, I'm trying to connect up to the Ft Lauderdale, FL Repeater... I can hear it (sometimes), sometimes I hear morse, but can't seem to activate it as I can't hear it back on another HT (I just learned that term!) So, what's the way I should "call" to see if anyone can hear me?

There was a post here recently from someone who had changed the settings on his radio. The second point was really only for someone who already owned the MXT400 and wanted to address the limitations (and didn't care about certification). BTW, one of the limitations is PL tones, and changing that wouldn't affect certification. But, you are 100% correct, If someone is thinking about buying the radio and then changing the bandwidth, they might as well buy that exact same radio from Luiton (LT-590), Retevis (RT-900D), TYT (TH900d), or some other vendor at 1/2 the price, and no limitations.

i was wondering that too...i'd been kind of monitoring the post, "best performing" within cost (and maybe size) contraints" would have been my first thought too, but i thought i might be missing something. if height (for performance) is the goal, couldn't that be handled more economically with more mast, rather than trying to get a bigger antenna?

Most of the issues people have with the MXT 400 can be resolved by use of the programming software. Here is a link to one discussion on that topic. There are others.

If you're calling another station directly, always start with their call sign first, then yours - ex " WYYY345, WZZZ123." A good way to remember this is to insert "this is" between the call sign and you'll never forget the order - ex "WYYY345 this is WZZZ123." If you're not calling another station directly, the usual procedure is to announce your call sign and "listening" or "monitoring" - ex "WZZZ123 monitoring." If you're just monitoring simplex you might add "WZZZ123 monitoring GMRS channel 20." If you're monitoring a repeater, you might say "WZZZ123 monitoring [repeater station name or frequency here]." If you're looking for a CB-style radio check, people generally ask for a "signal report." For example you may identify on a repeater like this: "This is WZZZ123 monitoring CityRepeater1, are any stations available for a signal report?" A listening station may respond indicating the strength and quality of your signal and/or initiate a conversation. If you receive no response, you could wait a few minutes, identify with your call sign again and request a signal report. If you are not receiving any replies after one or two attempts, you should clear the frequency with something like "No contact, this is WZZZ123 clear, monitoring." Also - you should avoid just keying up the repeater and not saying anything (a.k.a. "kerchunking" the repeater) . If you just want to test if you're in range or have the radio properly set up, still identify - ex: "WZZZ123 testing." Here is a link with some good info about amateur repeater etiquette, but a lot of it still applies to GMRS as well. Radio involves a lot of listening, so keep yours on often and see what you can hear - hope this helps!