nutz.Personally I haven't gotten an electronic gimbal because I really don't like the idea of having to have some place to seat it all the time. The company I worked for this summer had a movi and that thing was super light, but still it was annoying not being able to really set it down or anything for fear of knocking the balance off.
Glidecam = less working parts, less easy to break, still useful with dead batteries. I'd say it looks more floaty, the electronic ones tend to look super smooth but not floaty like the glidecam.
Agreed with always having to set it down, but I only set it down while inside and you can turn them off I believe and they can lay flat.
My glidecam has taken one nasty hit where I fell on it while skiing, not going to lie but nothing else could take that and I'm surprised even the glidecam took it. (Luckily all my camera gear is under insurance so I'm not too worried about that)
Agreed with the floatyness nothing can really replicate a glidecam to my knowledge.
I personally buy tons of batteries for anything I own. I'd have 2-3 for the gimbal. (I'm looking at a CAME Mini 1 as of right now but not sure)