Well, in the interest of staying legal and not frying the neighbors TV stations, I'm still liking the 148GTL. All the extra features in seemingly better radios come at the cost of having an illegal radio. There are a scant few exceptions, mostly with discontinued radios. And even then, they are not really better radios, but have the ability to be modified to be better radios (power supply improvements, Rx improvements, whatever).
At least the cobra is mobile, but appears it will do nicely as a base unit as well. Straight up legal AM/SSB radios being so few as they are (what, 3-4 out there?), I'm going with the Cobra, its a brand I think I can trust in this area. I wont be so tempted to modify it or spend goofy amounts of cash on it, being as it would only put me closer to ending up with an illegal box.
I really like the Galaxy 2547, its a straight up AM/SSB rig and would probably be a great radio, but its a base unit. And even though the Cobra 148F GTL DX models are gone, their soul lives on in "export" radios. Same with many other fine rigs of years past, their original designs are still lurking inside other radios. I will admit, I love the Galaxy 2517 and RCI-99's, but those arent really CB radios and they are full of modification options that keep you on the "dark-side", and ultimately, if I eventually want that many bells and whistles and that much power, I'll just get a HAM ticket and be free.
And yes, I'm a roger-beeping, echo-talking, talkback loving fool. Will be promptly modifying my 148GTL to have these features, or at least buying a decent power mic with echo and beep. Wonder if I can find a roger-beep that sounds like a drop of water, I love that sound, not sure why.