WQIR250

Living in a crowded area the frequency is too active and I like filtering the noise out.

DMR channels do not use 7.6 kHz of spectrum; they each use 12.5 kHz but they use time division multiplexing to share that portion of spectrum. In other words each current GMRS channel would only represent two DMR channels. 
Gil is correct that this would impact everyone who has an analog GMRS radio. Use of such a radio requires the entire channel, making it unavailable for DMR.  
Conversely, to those who have analog radios, every DMR transmission sounds like an impact wrench.
“Here in California, CERT, neighborhood or fire watch, militia groups, etc. have implemented GMRS because 80-90% of their members have no direct interest in the technical aspects of amateur radio.”
I don’t know how true that statistic is, but ruining GMRS for the rest of us isn’t the answer. 
 
P.S.  People who have no direct interest in the technical aspects of amateur radio might have a tough go when they have to program a codeplug. DMR codeplugs are extremely technical. I guess you could sell the radio with a basic codeplug that’s simplex DMR on 1-22 and duplex on 23-30, but what do you use for talk groups, time slots, and color codes?

Are you thinking we want to implement DMR because we want to use digital?   The San Francisco/Sacramento region is heavily congested and interference among repeaters is increasing.   There is no practical solution using the same amount of spectrum unless you move to digital technologies.   
You are also trying to compare apples to oranges.  GMRS is a more attractive solution to the majority of people because their priority is communication as opposed to technical pursuits.  Here in California, CERT, neighborhood or fire watch, militia groups, etc. have implemented GMRS because 80-90% of their members have no direct interest in the technical aspects of amateur radio.
 

I was just using mine today and i was thinking how many people will love it, and many will not love it, very much..
 
I very much do not love mine because I use my HTs primarily when i'm adventuring/off-roading and I need something that I can see in the bright sunlight and that has quick/easy to use unambiguous controls.. This radio does not fill those needs.
However people that love to tinker and use the radio from their couch to 'make contacts', talk on the local repeaters or learn new stuff/etc, will love it.

Thank you! That's an option I hadn't thought of....  For the same price or less I found a solution on Amazon, I'll post up whether I have any driver compatibility issues when it arrives. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0852HVYQ5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  It'll be nice to have an all in one deal, less stuff to lose. 

Man, what a Beast. Many, many moons ago when I first got licensed into GMRS (my old call was wqnh201) there were zero part 95 compliant 50W or near radios available so the 6021 was the go to. Mil Spec rated, no fan, just a solid block of aluminum. The mic has to weigh close to a pound.... But programming was/is a bit complex. I still have the software and cable, but the cable is a 9 pin serial port on the computer side.... Luckily, I still have an old windows 2k laptop with a dead battery but a good power supply, and after 30 minutes of trying, I remembered the password.
Anyway, without being too specific, I realized the 15w midland I bought just for a cheap trail riding solution was no longer "compatible" and a call to midland was met with " well, we'll give ya a discount to buy a new 115", led me to think why did I buy that pos when I had this in a box from back when! 
I CAN program this radio for what "we" need using that old laptop and cable, but I was wondering if anyone had a USB solution? 

A radio like the Icom 6021 makes a very nice a very nice base or mobile, has 128 channels and is only a few dollars more than the 8 channel 6011.   A full 45 watts and very nice audio.  I use one in my car.   I like the additional channels as the frequency split is 400-470 mhz and I have all the ham repeaters and simplex channels programmed in as well as the GMRS.  Just make sure if you get one you get the 400-470 mhz version, their are a few other frequency split options.   Software and cable was about $30, not a big expense and very easy to program.  Power supply if used as the base will have to be 12+ amps as it does draw a bit.  Good luck!

Thanks for the report, I am often tempted by the price as in "hey why not".    I took a chance with the Anytone Dual Bander that I did a previous review on, a good radio for the price but I am still not willing to praise it.    For my money the best UHF only radio out there is the Icom 6021 128  ($260)  channel or its cousin the 6011 8 channel ($220).   I have the 6021 mobile and love it.   Loud on both ends and very, very stable.  Great performers, period!  

I know someone that has a Kraken I would be happy to do a FOX hunt. 

A fixed antenna (non-removable) does kill it for me, sadly.