[ISFChamp]

You can have the best radar detector, but if the oficer doesn't have his/her radar gun on, and flicks it on only when they see you, your Sh*t out of luck!! By then, it's too late !! I had a Passport 8500 and got rid of it. With it, I thought I was "safer", and had a license to speed, when in reality, you have a greater risk of getting a speeding ticket !!

 

[ISFChamp]

I have heard from a few customer's that installed the 9500 system and they said basically the same thing you just did.
I just feel that with a Radar Detector your pushing the limits more because you feel "safer" from getting a ticket. I guess as long as you know that it is not fail proof, you should be ok. Don't rely on it 100%, but instead use it as a guide. You still have to watch your mirros, traffic and of course look for brake lights for no appearant reason it front of you...