I'm not trying to pick a fight. I promise.
We use bluetooth headsets - bought them for each other for Christmas. I'll try to answer these items one by one.
We have a Bayliner 4788 that we are just learning how to drive & dock. We were very worried about communication, and during the sea trials our concerns were validated. My wife standing in the port side of the cockpit can't hear me, nor I her, when I'm in the pilothouse. Our home slip is a port-side tie.
We bought these:
https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling-Mic-Black/dp/B015IEW1AY/ref=sr_1_5
$40 for the pair.
I put my phone on the pilothouse dash. My wife zips hers up in her jacket. If I stand on the aft swimstep, I start to lose signal. 100% of the boat has coverage.
Sound quality is excellent. As if my wife is standing right next to me. We've not noticed the simplex/duplex issue mentioned by someone previously -- but it's not like we are constantly talking. We've only had the boat out a few times, but we've used the headsets every time. As long as there is cell phone coverage (and I think this is
the differentiating factor between this solution and headsets), it's a completely viable solution.
0% chance of that happening. Literally 0%.
There is a chance.. and in fact it's happened.. of the headsets themselves falling off your ear and into the water. That's why we went with the around-the-neck earbud solution, and not just the ear-clip thing.
I did, and I do. For a lot cheaper then headsets, which is why I went with the solution.
Explain to me, then, your concern with handling lines? How is a "headset" any different than a "bluetooth headset" in terms of physical attributes?
I think there are use cases for headsets.
I think there are use cases for bluetooth headsets.
There are pros and cons with both solutions.