CARES just approved by FAA

I found the blurb in Dec. Parents mag. that FAA has approved the CARES system recently. It's for children over 1 year old, 20-44lbs. I don't see its practicality for an under 2 year old, but it's got to be easier than carting around a large carseat that may or may not fit for the older tots.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com

I thought that it was very strange this blurb was on the order page:
on the side bar for
What the Experts Say

“For the safety of your child, American Airlines recommends purchasing a seat and using an approved child safety seat.” Hmmm, does that mean I can't use this on an AA flight?

It means using your child's safety seat is just as (if not more so) safe, and that since your child needs a seat at both ends of the trip you might as well use it.

I know one of the guys who helped design that thing. Its pretty cool, but kind of $$ for the use it would get if you ask me. I did ask him if he could get me one cheap, but he said no lol, and i'm not comfortable checking dd's carseat anyways.

I have a friend that would work really well with. Her son is 2 1/2, 40lbs, 39" tall. She lives a long way from family and flies home as often as she can. She doesn't take her son's carseat since her parents have one there to save her from trying to lug everything by herself.

Price isn't really that terrible. Works out to $37.50 each way for a r/t and can be used for a long time. Not really a bad deal, imo. I'm actually contemplating it since dd HATES sitting next to the window and I can't stand sitting in a center seat due to claustrophobia. She's 34lbs and has been that way for a while, so I'd possibly get 3 years out of it, maybe more. I want my daughter safely restrained, but I'm not too convinced how well a carseat would hold up in a flight accident with a larger child. Everyone hedges on the issue way too much. I wonder too much about the dynamics of a car seat sitting her closer to the back of the seat in front of us. There's not that much room to spare.

If dh ends up having to go tdy next year for 6 months, I'm going to be flying out of here as often as I can. I wouldn't have any connections, so I'm not too worried with checking the Radian into baggage with our other stuff.