Here is my two cents, after having been around drones for quite a while and having seen first hand DJI code that has been reverse engineered.
1. DJI steals your info. This is why they MANDATE that you log into their app. Sure, you can firewall it after you do so (I do) but as soon as that app is allowed internet access, to update maps, update the app etc. Guess what? Data goes to DJI. No, this is not the same "tracking" info that other apps use. DJI always denied it, but we released videos and info showing what they do. Moving on. (oh, and Autel doesn't mandate that you log into their app to identify any data that you send to them, unless you give the app permission to do so, like flight logs etc. You get a choice) Wait...what is that you say DJI Fanboi? DJI released a non-data stealing version of their app? Why of course they did, after considerable pressure. Full app with just no data "theft"? Of course not. They removed almost all features. Now why would they do such a thing? Perhaps they really don't want you using that app and since you really, REALLY want all the features the app has to offer, why not forget about that data "theft" thing and just use the full app? Hmmmm? Oh and of course all your DJI drones automatically and no you can't turn this off...broadcast a digital license plate when you fly, that can easily be spoofed with a simple home router, with your flight info, GPS position of the drone at all times, Serial number, GPS location where you are flying from, and when cross checked against the DJI Database, all your personal info. You do remember logging into that app, right?
2. DJI Geo Fencing scheme. DJI took a huge gamble with their lock downs and DJI NFZ scheme. They did this for one huge reason. They wanted (and probably still do)to sell their NFZ/Geo Fencing software to the other drone makers.....they weasled their way and led a US Govt. group to study and come up with NFZ guidelines/software that they hoped would be made MANDATORY for all drones sold around the world. Surprise! It would of course be a DJI Solution...imagine that! Along the way, despite the money spent and a certain lawyer representing DJI spreading falsehoods far and wide about how honorable DJI is as a company, and they would NEVER, EVER do anything "bad", or "steal" any of your flight/phone/device info...they got caught, and Surprise! They also wanted you to forget that they are a CCP company and required by CCP law to share any and all info the company collects directly with CCP. Now before you get all bunched up, yes you are correct. Autel is also a Chinese company, and by CCP law, MUST share any and all info collected to CCP. All Chinese companies must comply by law.
3. Autel tries to tell you that they are a US based company. While they have offices in the USA, and really try to tell you the drones are made in the US...we all know they are a Chinese company. Not saying all Chines companies are "bad", just that by Chinese law, they must share data with CCP.
4. Drones and big tech. Big tech doesn't want you flying in "their" airspace. They want to own 400' to 500' airspace so that they can send you Amazon packages and not be bothered by any of you "little people" flying for recreation. They can't have that. So I predict they will continue to spend gobs of money trying to push all of us out of the drone flying business, or limit you to a specific flying area, like AMA fields. One can only hope that the FAA continues to support hobby flying and don't regulate us all out of existence...only allowing big tech with all the cash to be the only ones in the sky.
With millions of drones out there, and rarely any documented instances of injury or even death, (has anyone actually died as a result of a hobby drone?) I think that while of course the possibility is always there for dumb people to do dumb things, the threat of serious injury is way overblown. The only thing we all can do is be responsible for our own flights, and help educate the "ignorant" drone pilots out there and of course be safe as possible in any flights we make. Anyone with evil intent will not follow any law that is made anyway, and I have faith that 99% of drone pilots are responsible people. Lets just hope that the stupid people out there that don't follow the rules, don't ruin it for everyone else.
IMHO - DJI still makes the best drones for the money, but I am super happy with the progress Autel has made and as of right now, they have the best cameras on fold-able drones right now. Where this hobby goes from here is anyone's guess. It seems that major development is being made in the sub 250grams drone market. I think this is great. 250grams is so light weight, you could probably drop one on someones head and they could walk away with maybe a scratch. Drop a big DJI or
Evo II on someone and game over. Power to weight ratio will continue to improve with these drones, making them more able to carry better cameras etc, as long as they keep the weight under 250grams, all good. Rumor is, is that Autel is working on a "mini" type drone, so we shall see what they come up with.