...the rise of blind tech-dependance is starting to get to me - typically riders on the local lanes haven't a clue where they are, just following the purple line. Ok, rant over.
This is starting to bug me as well. The number of riders asking for GPX links, for audaxes, over on Facebook is ridiculous! I’m a fan of GPX, but can’t they even prepare their own from the route sheet? It’s not hard, and it allows you to review the route on a (virtual) map.
A GPX file is exactly that though. It's just a standard format for storing and exchanging lines on maps, without having to waste time and data (and get into copyright issues) storing the map itself. Given suitable tools it's easier to prepare a GPX Track than a good routesheet, it can be rendered in a way that suits the end user rather than the creator
[1], and routes encoded as a list of coordinates are much, much less ambiguous than a traditional routesheet.
The use of GPS receivers is orthogonal to the use of GPX. They're equally useful for users of electronic or paper maps. And as for people asking for one, sometimes it's nice to look at a map of where a ride goes when deciding whether you'd like to do it. (Agree that it's probably overkill for a typical club run, where "n miles, stopping at the foobar cafe for lunch" would normally be sufficient.)
[1] Hands up who's spent quality time re-formatting a routesheet in their preferred font / measurement units / paper size?