Lots of Bruce and CQR anchors on the dock where I am. They must be working well for them.
In any endeavor, the quality of the tool (or gun, club, car, sail, camera, etc...) is usually secondary to the persons ability to use it.
You put your finger right on it there Dave. Which is why anchoring threads are always so popular, as everyone has a story to tell. But yes, When the Delta came out it basically made all the previous CQR type plough anchors obsolete, and similarly the newer generation anchors, like the one you are about to receive, have done the same in a way to most others.
But...and it is a big BUT...the fact is, most folk, if not travelling long distances, which is most of us, are cautious enough to always consider wind, tide, currents and depth, and anchor is 'safe' places, so 99% of the time, the anchor is just acting as the thing that drags the rode out of the locker, and little more. So of course they don't fail, and their owner is happy. From my personal experience, I would never use a CQR type anchor again, but the majority of boats in our marina even now, are still dropping them, laying back, and having a good night's sleep.
So, for many, if not most, it doesn't matter...until one day maybe it does...which raises the point then...why bother to look into anchor alternatives..?
Nomad Willy, Eric answered that well when he said...
"
Holding power is fine to super fine now. Anchor choices should be based on setting, veering, all bottom capability, user friendliness and other things ..."
As an aside, I see a thread there announcing a North American distributer for Sarca...haven't looked at it yet, but if so, that's great news for your region.