I'm new to owning a true UAS...my current I1 is my first REAL UAS....but I've had several smaller RC aircraft in the past, so it is definitely not a new experience for me. That said, here in the US, the rules seem to be knee-jerk reactions to unrealistic perceptions of the uses of the equipment.....mainly spying. Locally, in North Carolina, there is an active moratorium on commercial use of UAS. In other words, I can't officially fly... at all.... for my photography business, but as a hobbyist, I can do pretty much anything I want...within the rules of VFR and a 400' ceiling. Now, the FAA requires that my hobby has to registered with them. I'm not completely opposed to a registration system as such, but I think their intention with registration is more to see what's out there rather than for safety purposes.
I am also an Emergency Management Professional in charge of life-safety actions for my jurisdiction. That includes search and rescue operations. After 25 years in the profession, I cannot fathom a reason why the FAA would not allow the use of UAS equipped with FLIR to locate and rescue a human being. But currently, we can't use them for any Public Safety reason without COAs that in some cases take months to get. We are readily allowed to utilize helicopters and fixed-wing craft billed out at thousands of dollars per hour and often times unavailable when needed, but we are not even allowed to purchase UAS quads or octos without approval from the state and to date, no approval has been given to ANY of the 100 county jurisdictions here.
What gives? Can it be that the restrictions are politically motivated? Perhaps economically motivated? I honestly don't know, but I really do feel that there are reasons other than general safety that come into play when considering the current level of regulations that have been and are being placed on UAS. I have a suspicion that the mentality of those that are regulating so heavily, comes from our quads being called Drones. The word Drone has a decidedly military connotation since the large, autonomous and weaponized versions are so heavily used in wars now. If we, as hobbyists and professional photographers/videographers would refer to them as something other than drones, I really feel that we can reduce the amount of fear and ultimately improve our relationship with lawmakers. Perhaps we should just call them aerial cameras........
Just my $0.02 worth......