I've been gone a while, but I use an old-fashioned ancient analog beacon. When I took my Level I, the instructor had said digital beacons were required. When I questioned him on it, he told me to bring my analog beacon, and he'd lend me a new one, and I'd see how much better the new ones are.
Not only did I do better with the analog than the digital, I got the fastest times in the class in multiple-burial situations.
Analog beacons are better than digital beacons IF you really practice with them and understand how they work (IMHO, of course). If you're looking for something that points an arrow towards the victim, you need digital. If you're looking for something you can read the directions for and spend a half hour practicing and say you're ready, go digital.
My advice is to let your partners use whatever beacon they're best at. If you're uncomfortable with their skills, do some practice together to judge how quickly they find beacons. But don't judge them on their beacon, judge them on their skill with a beacon.
I understand there are analog/digital beacons that give you the best of both worlds, but I've never tried one.
