There are 3 things I like about my little electric map reader.
1. It is instantly accessible as it lives clipped to my shoulder harness out of the way until I need it.
2. When I come to a navigational quandary, it shows me where I am and where I have come from straight away so it is a very quick one handed unclip, look, decide, re-stow in much less time than it takes to get the map out and fix your position.
3. If I take a wrong turning, it warns me I am not going where I thought I was.
Most of the time it stays stowed out of the way so I can enjoy the walk. There are other advantages such as giving me an ETA at my destination, current height and elevation profile and a trace of my actual route as a souvenir.
For these reasons, I would encourage any novice walker to learn not only the art of conventional map reading but also the art of using an electronic aid. I know MRTs decry the use of mobile phones but I disagree. Yes, if you set out with a half charged phone using GoogleMaps you are likely to run into trouble but much in the same way as we encourage novices to dress appropriately, to have a map and compass and know how to use them; I believe the message should include take a phone or gps, fully charged, with the right app on board and know how to use it. Modern aids, dedicated or phone based, no longer need a data signal to work and fully charged, should last all day.