Better than a beacon?

www.lawinenball.com/English/enter.htm

I came across this while researching beacons. It seems to be a pretty foolproof method of finding someone who is buried. This balloon launches and remains attached to you, so the rescuers just follow the line and start digging. They have done multiple tests on this and compared it to other rescue options. Seems like a pretty viable option to me. Also, from what I could find it retails for around $130-150. (that is, until the US$ starts looking like the peso...)

Oddly, it does not appear to be available in the US. It seems much more economical than a beacon and less prone to user error, especially for those who are searching for you. True, you would have to be sure to pull the cord, but it seems like you would have a couple of seconds to reach up and pull when you first realize you are about to be consumed. Then the ball stays on the surface and you stay attached by a chord.

Why don't we use it? Thoughts?

My first thought is that I'd rather use a beacon. Cords can become detached, you could forget/fail to deploy the cord. If 15 or 20 feet of cord was buried or tangled in trees, how much time would you waste digging the cord out as you tried to trace your way down to the body?

ABS packs, on the other hand... same principle as the ball, and it seems a much more viable option.

I see 2 problems with the system:
1. In th' FAQ section:
"Do I have enough time to pull the ripcord of the AVALANCHE BALL?
Generally yes. 85% of all users were able to release the Airbag system in time " I have difficulties with "Generally" and "85%", and I think you can follow my reasoning, eh?
2. Tensile strength of the 6 meter line: I'm not concerned with weight bearing capability as the line's ability to not be sheared by the grinding from snow chunks in an avalanche. Perhaps light weight cable is the answer here (remember Rainey super loops?).
That being said, I could see this being used in addition to a beacon, but not as a substitute

Oddly, it does not appear to be available in the US.

K2 previously distributed it in the U.S. -- been quite a few years though since they discontinued that relationship.

ABS packs, on the other hand... same principle as the ball, and it seems a much more viable option.

Totally different principles:
-- ABS packs (and competitors) use compressed gas to inflate balloons that are intended to keep the pack wearer on top of the avy debris.
-- Avalanche ball uses springy metal to keep a ball (non-inflatable) and attached cord above avy debris so that the victim can be located under the debris more quickly (or so is the goal).

Same principle re: larger, lighter objects generally come to the top in the avalanche debris. Obviously not the same mechanism of obtaining that large lightness.