OK John, I'll start off by thanking you for commenting

and your use of colour cetainly helps.
However (here it comes), I'm not sure when you are commenting my pros and cons and when you are intending to add to the pros and cons. Is there any chance you could give me a shortened version of your actual pros and cons so I can update?
I do have some comments of my own to yours
Pro: They are reliable as heck and for some undefinable reason I think that the process of learning to use them has some intangible benefit for the person doing the learning.
"They are as reliable as heck ...." In my ears (remembering I'm a "foreigner") that sounds more like a "con" than a "pro". Is "heck" meant in a positive way?
Pro: Maybe I'm just too old and been at this way too long, but I just trust a high-quality make of dial caliper more than I trust a digital (partially because I've seen too much pointless and expensive scrap caused by that darn zero button).
The zero button on many calipers (nowadays) is situated in a place where, unless you have some weird hand deformation), is as good as impossible to "hit/touch" when measuring. I'd say it's a question of looking out for this when purchasing.
"Old dogs can't learn new tricks" - rubbish - I'm older than you
Con: Ya can't just use a dial caliper in a machine shop environment, throw it on your workbench at the end of your shift, and expect it to survive.
I'm not sure how serious you are here. Measuring equipment isn't a hammer or a screwdriver that should be "thrown" on a bench or any place else. I'm open to suggestions but I can't tink of any measuring equipment that will withstand a "throw" - and that includes a steel rule. Take care of your tools and they'll take care of you.
Having tools that can easily switch between measurement systems should be handy for anyone who, unlike myself, is not a lunatic.
My original pro for metric/inch was meant more along the lines that the same caliper could be used worldwide. I don't know if you know this, but the USA is just about the only country that only uses inches instead of metric.
Con: I must respectfully disagree with your assertion that digital is more accurate than dial (although I agree, more accurate than vernier). In my experience, it seems to depend on the level of experience on the part of the person using the tool: newbies seem to be better with digitals than dial calipers while old f*rts like me tend to show better repeatability with dial gages.
Just as many micrometers and dial indicators have gone digital (with 10 times the accuracy of the "old" types) so have calipers. At an exhibition in Stuttgart (Germany) I was at a few months ago I saw and handled a 6" digital caliper that was accurate to within 0.0001 inches.Everyone I saw measure something with it smiled and shook their heads in disbelief - including me. It was only about 3 times as expensive as a normal high quality caliper. It's specified accuracy was the same as the Sylvac Microcal which can only measure externally and only up to 4". Btw, this caliper (Sylvac) has a built-in pressure device. I don't think you tried using digital calipers for some time - am I right?
If you are measuring something that requires a degree of accuracy to where a pressure device is necessary for your caliper, in my very humble opinion you shouldn't be using a caliper in the first place.
One of the advantages of a caliper pressure device is that the user can concentrate on measuring and get full use of both hands. Another is that it eliminates too much user influence on the pressure being used. I'll bet you know some who say they don't need to use the ratchet on a micrometer and have it all "in the feel". I won't deny that's possible, but I've also seen jerks use a micrometer when they couldn't find a clamp!
Re "
you shouldn't be using a caliper in the first place" my following remark is not intended to make me "Mr. Popular" in the USA. I've been to the USA several times and it's always surprised me how old fashioned and hyper modern things can be.
Sadly I think USA is losing the battle in the manufacturing world - and not just because of high wages and standard of living. I share the American love for "gadgets" but in some fields there is a tendency to "stick with what you know". They can be found in the USA but almost everyt small machine shop in Denmark (and most of Europe) looks like something you'd expect to see at NASA

If you Google on facts for Denmark I think you'll find it's one of the top five countries in the world as regards standard of living.