I guess that does answer my question. If you don't get any packets after launch, and assuming it is still transmitting, you can pick up something if you get close that will lead you to the location. You're not SOL if you miss the "last known packet".
The receiver locks that last received packet in the display whether you use this or a Beeline GPS APRS tracker. With a Ham Radio APRS tracker,
the packets are different than those out of the non-licensed trackers in format. The radio receiver is a heck of a lot more expensive. The only advantage at best is the datastream can be sent to a Garmin 60Cs, CsX or 78 handheld and navigation can be done in realtime on the map. (Or a laptop but that is hard to take portable to the rocket.)
The EF can do that trick to a degree with the Android app "GPS rocket locator". If one wants a map of their location, they have to have an internet connection or the device will just give the two points and a line to follow. That's all that's needed to find the rocket anyways.
GPSRL can be squirrely at times but the lat/long can be pulled off the display of the EF LCD and input into any handheld mapping GPS
to navigate to the rocket. It's not automatic but it works.
Recover one rocket that has pricey electronics onboard and the EF pays for itself in one flight. In order to achieve that with the Ham Radio Equipment, one needs to recover 3 to 5 pricey rockets. When I say recover, I mean a flight where the rocket disappears without a trace except the information one sees from their tracker. I've had that happen twice so far with the BeelineGPS tracker. Wouldn't have had any idea where to even start a search. By reading the display, one can tell the drogue is out and when the main is out and deployed even without a visual.
All in all, an individual will feel more comfortable with outta sight flying. Doesn't eliminate trees and lakes but at least gets an idea where to look.
What about RDF? Yeah that works but for really distant flights one can only hope they get close enough on their bearing line to pick it up again. Can waste a lot of time in that endeavor. If one wants to put up more projects, they have a better chance of going directly to the rocket, get it and go one to launch the next one. Kurt