Sandspur

I call BULLSHIT - just another Sad-HAM disguised as a GMRS user.  YOUR radio YOUR choice - if the sad-HAM control freaks dont like it, they can change the channel..  
HOWEVER - as you mentioned, if the repeater owner requests that you not use a roger-beep on his repeater, then following the wishes of the equipment owner who's equipment you are using would be the polite thing to do, IMO..

Yes, a local GMRS user in Malibu told me that the City of Malibu funds his group to build out DB20-G GoBoxes for distribution to its citizens.

Radioddity DB20-G as easy to use as: 1-2-3:
1) Plug into cigarette lighter; and plug in antenna;
2) Select appropriate Repeater Channel 23-30; and 
3) Push FUN button, select appropriate Tone from 01:T-CTC Menu using Up and Down arrow buttons; then push FUN button to exit Menu Mode
Start using your Repeater! 

Tons of user feedback on this Forum alone!

LOVE that radio. Small and compact, great for go box builds!

Check out the Radioddity DB20-G mobile ($109, 20 watts, cigarette lighter plug, optional cup mount) and GM-30 HT ($39):
 

Not sure about that 45 watt mobile radio offhand...with the lack of feedback and delays, I wonder if it's fairly new hardware. The one in the 25 watt kit looks very similar to the retevis rb86 (which is also water resistant and on sale for $111). The handheld looks like a radioddity gm30 (which run around $40). The cable with nmo is usually $30ish for name brand, and rugged actually has a laird 1/2 wave on sale for $24, which is a good price.
On the mount, it looks nicely made...the mounting location in some of the pics (and proximity to adjacent metal parts gives me pause, but I'll let those with experience speak to if that's actually an issue (as I don't have a jeep and haven't used their mount).
Overall, probably not bad gear, but they're charging a premium for name and the convenience of a kit. Whether it's justified is up to the buyer.

My thought as well, it's overpriced for what's there. The one point in their favor appears to be the installation instructions. IMO you can probably do with a 20 to 25W radio on the trails and for most travel needs. the extra power from a 45W UHF radio buys you maybe an additional mile of coverage.

I've used their V3 HT's for awhile and really like them. however, they are costly and are just rebadged Baofeng UV-5Rs. Rugged is big in the offroad racing world and they work well, especially in dusty, water resistant needs. The install kits are good for specific applications like a Jeep.
That said, I think there  are a lot of other good options out there. I ordered the GMR45 kit from Rugged the other day only to get an email the next day that they don't have them for a few weeks. On back order. I cancelled the order, did some more research and went another direction. 
 

I am a Ham, but had my GMRS license long before my amateur radio license, going back to 1988.  It was an individual license back then and gear was primitive at best, but that is part of what made it easy.
Me and my Ham friends (whom actually do appreciate GMRS) very rarely use VHF/UHF ham frequencies anymore and are almost completely GMRS.  Many of us got sick of the club politics.  We just use GMRS to chat while we are heading to meet up, stay in touch on the road, and in touch while offroad.  Be it in 4X4's, on foot, small boats, etc.
Anyway, I wouldn't let it discourage you.  While some clubs have linked GMRS repeaters and have Nets, there are way more causal users and families with handhelds, mobiles, as well as base stations or repeaters in their garage so they can talk to family and friends.

GMRS is aimed for the non technical user. The idea is to just pickup the radio, pick a channel and press the button to talk. That's why the limited selection of channels and limited features available verses Ham radio that uses a "band" where one selects a frequency to use, different operating modes etc. The GMRS service is structured to facilitate communications between family members and to conduct family business. The idea wasn't for making random contacts or experimenting with equipment, however some do this.
Yes you'll find a significant number of Hams using GMRS too. Not necessarily a bad thing. One just has to keep in mind the differences between the services. What would be an acceptable topic on the Ham band maybe of little to no interest to a GMRS user.

No.. 
Although many hams do slum on GMRS in many areas, the main use for GMRS is utilitarian communication - ie; when off-roading and in a group, hiking, traveling with multiple vehicles, etc.
Sadly, it sounds like in your area many of the rag-chewers have taken over.. But once you get out of reach of their basements, like out adventuring in the desert or mountains, all their noise goes away.
I run a repeater, partially run another repeater which is one of the largest/most used in Southern California, and run a group - not only am i not a ham, most in the group are not hams either.

This is a nice little radio.  I hear the best GMRS channel on Youtube will be reviewing it a few days before its available for purchase.

He may fit in here, not too sure whether I do. I offered friendy advice and apparently fell into a gotcha trap. Starting to smell "hammy" in here.

He may fit in here, not too sure whether I do. I offered friendy advice and apparently fell into a gotcha trap. Starting to smell "hammy" in here.

The MXT275 is about as simple as it gets..here's the down & dirty notes on using GMRS on a MXT275:
1) turn radio on
2) Select channel you want to talk on
3) Push button on mic, point noise-hole at mic, talk
4) Let go of button on mic
5) Listen
If you have any other more specific questions I'm sure the community can help.

Honestly, I don't really have any interest in "carding" whoever I'm talking with to see if they have a license. I also don't get too wound up if they don't use their callsign. I use mine, but that's just me. I see GMRS as just another form of communication and I have no interest in the radio hobby as such. For a while I thought I may get my technician's license, but decided it wouldn't be useful for family use. It's impractical for each family member to have to learn a bunch of radio trivia just to be able talk back and forth. 

Honestly, I don't really have any interest in "carding" whoever I'm talking with to see if they have a license. I also don't get too wound up if they don't use their callsign. I use mine, but that's just me. I see GMRS as just another form of communication and I have no interest in the radio hobby as such. For a while I thought I may get my technician's license, but decided it wouldn't be useful for family use. It's impractical for each family member to have to learn a bunch of radio trivia just to be able talk back and forth. 

It's interesting that your compadres in the HAM world chastise you for using the airwaves as a form of communication rather than just a medium to run their cools gadgets on. I look at my radios like any other appliance. I'm not a HAM guy, but since you are, 73's.

Same here. If I figure out they have no license, whether it's GMRS or ham, I ignore them. And like you, I got the GMRS license so my wife and I can keep in contact on repeaters when I'm off exploring outside of cell coverage, since she's not really interested in the ham license. 

HAM ...

This sounds very serious!  Can you tell us how many have lost their license (ham or gmrs) for talking to an unlicensed operator in the last 10 years?