The one big benefit to a gopro as I see it is that it has become the standard. Since any exciting footage requires more than one POV most of the time if your friends have cameras you will all be shooting the same type of footage. My friends and I have gopros and when they are cut together it looks seemless. I love my gopro and wouldn't trade it for anything. Additionally you can have up to 50 gopros linked together and operated from one smartphone so the options become nearly limitless.
