There in lies their hypocritical nature. It's all about the money. Guess they have got to do what they need to do even if it is dichotomous to there mission ideals. Calling it intellectual property is relative if not a farce. Is the AMC not about Conservationism at it's roots? What happen to facilitating a rustic outdoor experience and outdoor education? Now rather than promoting LNT and self reliance by facilitating skills like Map and Compass they are appealing to a contingent that gets off on a digitized experience. Where in lies the intellectualism by turning on a battery powered device that could potentially fail to rely on ones well being and survival? Very slippery slope indeed. Also does everyone have a Smart Phone, a reliable computer, a broad band connection, and the money to purchase these items in addition to the software? Once again they are also aligning and appealing themselves to a narrow demographic. If not they are promoting the wrong outdoor experience IMO. What happened to unplugging and getting away from it all?
Yes, cell phone apps are not reliable, can be misused, and are not a substitute for map and compass skills
Making maps available via cell phone apps is
not in conflict with Conservationism nor LNT. Loading a map on your phone does not automatically places you in the "contingent that gets off on a digitized experience".
I was not aware that one of AMC objectives is intellectualism; are you sure about that? Quote the opposite, my experience is that AMC promotes both an intellectual and an emotional response to nature.
As to self reliance, I do not perceive selling maps for phone apps as advocating a reliance on cell phones. Facilitating, yes, but advocating, no. If the AMC refused to make their maps available for that reason, it would be a foolish consistency.
I also disagree with your implication that enjoying nature requires being unplugged. Most of us here probably enjoy nature in that manner, myself included, it but that isn't the only way. Land of Many Uses, HYOH, etc.
I think you show the crux of your
legitimate issue with the AMC when you suggest that the more affluent population are more likely to be able to afford to purchase this product; similar to the Huts and the Highland Center. Again, I don't think the map thing is another strong supporting example of that concern.