This is an amazing article that summarizes so much of how I feel about amateur radio and prepping. KE9V writes on the topic eloquently:

My opinion is that the ‘Church of the Prepper’ is mostly about using fear to convince otherwise rational people to part with significant chunks of their hard-earned income for trinkets and baubles that might save them when it all comes apart at the seams.

I’ve often wondered why all these prepper guys are so hung up on Baofengs and cheap 2-meter handhelds, because if there is a disaster, you’re going to do a lot better getting a weak, battery-powered signal out on HF.  I’ve been telling this to anyone who would listen to me for a while now.

I’m also glad I took the time to learn CW.