1:22 p.m. on October 21, 2009 (EDT)
"Traditional" carries the tone of "old-school", whereas "everybody" knows that "digital" is latest/greatest.
Looking at the gear review section, I can understand how the search would be confusing, with all the multifunction devices intermingled with single function devices, and needle compasses intermingled with flux gate compasses (no aneroid altimeters anywhere to be seen, though, only multifunction and single function electronic altimeters).
Part of the problem with trying to define fine gradations in categories is that current and future navigation devices, like many other devices, are "multi-tasking". That is, to take the compass and altimeter as an example, a number of the high-end GPSRs include a fluxgate compass (hence electronic and frequently, though not always, digital display) and a barometric altimeter/barometer (digital display in all cases I have seen, though the graphical "climb/descent" display may be an analog graph). I also have a weather instrument (Kestrel 4500) which is electronic that combines an altimeter and compass, along with a number of other weather-related measuring functions (the fluxgate compass is used for determining wind direction plus cross- and head-wind components).
Another aspect of the micro-classification trap (hopefully avoiding nano-classification) is that compasses themselves can be divided into multiple user categories, which traps buyers into getting compasses that have functions they do not understand, resulting in added weight and complication and reducing usability.
Would you separate out those magnetic needle compasses between those with and without clinometers? Or those with a declination offset built in from those without this feature? Would orienteering thumb compasses go in a separate category since they have no degree markings?
This difficulty of trying to over-classify shows up in the catalogs and websites of the outdoor-oriented companies. I think readers are bright enough to figure it out if the review says if the widget is battery powered or multifunction. My suggestion would be to have simply a compass category and an altimeter category, and just note in the reviews whether the widget is battery-operated, no "digital", "electronic", "analog", "traditional", etc etc subcivisions. This might mean some devices should go into a "multi-function" category, or be listed in several sections. The review section should have a "guide to the seeker" that points out among other things the pluses and minuses of the different forms, including those of multi-function devices.
hmmmm, I guess I am sort of an afficionado, since I have a couple dozen "magnetic needles" and aneroid pressure sensors (altimeters and barometers to the uninitiated), and a couple dozen electronic devices that contain one or more direction or pressure devices. That includes a "Mecca" compass that indicates the direction to face for the 5 daily prayers and a survey-grade "pocket transit".