Hi Bill,
I had both a Yaesu 209 and an Icom 2AT and they were both quite 
accessible.  But the Yaesu ate batteries!!  The Icom was a good 
handheld for a long time.
My first 2 meter transceiver was an Icom 22A - crystals cost more 
than the radio but it was what was then!!
Not all of the changes have been kind to blind operators but we have 
managed a lot of fixes and workarounds and we shall continue to do that.
Good luck and enjoy.
Pat, K9JAUAt 12:51 AM 6/17/2008, you wrote:
>Hi Pat maybe I am showing my age, I have been a ham for a while but got away
>from the hobby.   My first radio was a Drake tr22c it used crystals.  I
>think I only had about 6 chanels.  I remember getting my first  2 meeter
>radio that wasn't crystal controled.  It was an Icom 2 AT does any one
>remember those.  It had three diles AS I remember if you wanted the
>frequency 146.94 you just had to dile up 6 9 4 The dealer took one of the
>notches out at the 0 point on each dile so I could find where I was at.  I
>think that radio was the first I had that would do Auto patch.  I thought I
>had made the big time when I got that rig.  I also had a yasue ft209 does
>any one remember that.  I wonder if any of those radios are still out there?
>In conclusion, I guess I am showing my age when I say why can't things be
>like they were in the day.  But things change and I will keep up with the
>changes and continue to learn.  after all, that is what makes our hobby
>interesting.
>Bill