Meh on 5 pin XLR plug. Sure, if thats the only place you ever use yours and you are just buying the headset, but if you want flexibility - an extra mic-volume-box-cable is $295. Two AA batteries are about a buck (when you buy 40+ for $20) and will last you 40ish hrs. Let's say 30 to be on a safe side. 295x30= 8850 hrs. My current A20s have about 2000 hrs on them (high impedance mic, works better in the current aircraft), another pair had a 1000ish or so - they are good headsets, I don't think either would survive 9000 hrs though