Carl,
The FM SATS are pretty easy and can be loads of fun. However, being
so easy, they get quite busy at times which brings about mayhem and
chaos. It takes a while for new users to learn the proper operational
skills for using a single channel repeater available often nationwide.
The Linear SATS are somewhat difficult to master at first, but most folks
catch on in a reasonable timeframe. They have a wide bandwidth which
makes them available for quite a few QSOs to take place simultaneously.
And, they can be actual QSOs as opposed to hello/goodbye types that
are the norm on the FM Birds. Your 9700 is an excellent radio for the
Linear SATs, whereas an HT would have been sufficient for the FM ones.
GL/73, Bob K8BL