I think that the Gear is great and like it better than I expected to. The pro is that it eliminates many of the little things that I pick up a phone for, such as to check the time, read a text message or an email. It works for the way that I do things, as I read emails from my phone (in the past) but rarely respond from the phone.
I don't talk much on my mobile phone, but the call function of the watch has come in handy when a call came in and I wasn't near my phone. As my phone is often in my purse with tons of other junk, I often had missed calls because I couldn't grab the phone in time. The Gear eliminates that.
I haven't worn a watch on a regular basis in all of my adult life. I've missed how easy it is to just look at my wrist to see the time.
I can't think of any real cons. There are a couple of things that need to be fine-tuned. One is that email pop-up notifications synced through the email app on the Note 3 display the sender's name on the Gear. However, GMail pop-up notifications don't show the sender's name if it is synced through the GMail app on the Note 3. I want GMail notifications to be the same as email notifications. Also, if someone sends a text message and I start my reply, but another text message comes in, I have to start over with my reply. It's not a big deal since it is done via voice dictation, but there should be a way to finish sending a text message before receiving the notification for an incoming text message.
I suppose the proprietary charger could be seen as a con, but I'll get over it as soon as I can get a travel charger.
@21stNow: This is a great summary of the features and use cases for the GG.
I was going to buy the GG no matter what because I'm an early adopter and the latest tech always interest me. But after getting it this device has proven to be one of the best accessories I have ever purchased. It's not the big things, but the little conveniences that the GG offers.
Take a walk through any mall or sit at any restaurant and you will see countless people with their head buried in their smartphone. Constant notifications of emails, text messages, and appointment reminders keep people looking down constantly at their phones. If you're driving in the car and a text message comes in you seem to instinctively reach for your phone to see who sent it, and what it says. We all tend to do this despite warning after warning to not text and drive. Sitting at the dinner table with the family and everyone has a smartphone, and no one is talking because of checking notifications and fumbling with their phones. Out at a game or strolling through the park and you notice something you want a picture of but by the time you take your camera out of your pocket the shot or the moment is lost. We know this is important to many because phone manufacturers are constantly coming with ways to make picture taking more accessible by adding lock screen access to the camera to minimize delays.
Well, with each of these things the GG addresses them all in a sleek stylish and professional looking timepiece. Without ever picking up my phone I can read email. I can read and respond to a text message. I can be notified of my next appointment or task. I can take a picture or quick video in a fraction of the time it would take someone using a smartphone (even using my voice without the need to touch the screen). I can schedule appointments, view my contact list, or even record a voice memo to remind me of a task.
It's the shear convenience that the GG offers that makes it so valuable. The "so called" professional reviewers only seem to focus on one or two aspects, but that's usually because they don't put down their own hard earned cash to buy the devices they review so the incentive to dive deeply into the devices capability is limited. However, as an early adopter of many technologies I buy devices and products with my own money so I take the time to set it up properly and use every feature I can find to its full advantage. So for me the GG is well worth the $300 price tag. If you get one, take the time to set it up, use it, and make it your own. I am almost positive you will discover that it adds value to your smartphone, and takes nothing away.