Honestly, any detector from about $80 to $400 is going to detect just the same. The only differences will be bells and whistles, which are nice but not needed.
I respect your right to any and all opinions but in this case I have to disagree.
Those bells and whistle can make a huge difference if used logically, so can a greater power range.
There can be a huge difference between the $80 and $400 range, especially now that the Patriot can be bought for $400, and the difference in what you are able to find using more able featured detectors can be shocking regarding depth and in extremely difficult and challenging sites of all kinds.
For example I was very good with my F2, paid for the thing 10 times over in 3 years use because I learned it so well and at such a deep level.
Limited amount of features to play with but I went beyond that to try to understand it's behavior way beyond the surface and there was more to learn and understand with some keen observation...much more.
As much as I learned, understood and found it was all a drop in the bucket compared to what I was able to do with the F70, not even in the same ballpark, city or state.
Not only in depth with so much more extra power but in insanely difficult sites and conditions because I had those extra whistles and bells to play with.
As much as I loved the F2, and there is no bigger fan out there of this great detector than me, it just couldn't do what this F70 can do, it is just technologically and logically impossible...and I have close to if not over 1000 hours of experience with both in fantastically great soil and also some of the worst imaginable.
The Patriot is an F70 clone and the F70 is one step down from flagship levels.
Even Dave Johnson has stated that the marketing arm at FTP never wanted anyone to know how capable and great this one really was...ever.
It is rare when a product of this caliber with so many helpful features that can make such a big difference in your success is offered at the kind of price point where the Patriot comes in...I still find it hard to believe they actually did this.
Again, just my opinion, but since I went from the F2 to the F70 in my experience there is no comparison.
Both are great in their respective places in the Fisher lineup, as I assume is the new F22, but a Chevette was never going to be a Cadillac no matter how much you might wish it was.