I am pretty happy with my RC Chute Sled. It is also non-pyro, self contained except for the RC transmitter and dead simple to use. I do not seeing flying any future mid or high power rocket that is likely to remain visible during the flight without one.
I really like the ability to pick the release altitude on demand. On one flight, the rocket weathercocked a bit and was well upwind when it ejected. Let the separated rocket fall for a while to estimate drift. It was going to be well upwind for a low altitude release, so I deployed at a much higher altitude than normal, about 600-700 feet. The rocket landed less that 100 yards upwind.
Alternatively, on a flight on windy days when the separated rocket drifts downwind during the fall from apogee, I can delay the opening of the main until as low as is practical.
For flights that are likely to need tracking devices and go out of sight, I am planning on using the JL CR in series with my RC Chute Sled for the best of both worlds.
Cost is very low. I can build 3-6 RC Chute Sleds (cost depend on component selection of receiver, sero and the one cell lipo battery) for the cost of a JL CR, given that I already have the RC transmitter.
The average rocketeer is not as comfortable with RC as they are with more traditional methods of recovery and usually lacks the transmitter.