Differences in HF Radio's today, yes they all either bug or appeal to the ham radio buying public. Take for example two very good radio's from Icom and Kenwood, the Icom is an easy peasy radio, takes very little knowledge to get started, yes it has menus but its easy to use. Now lets go to the Kenwood TS590S/SG another easy radio to use, not as many menus and has more front panel controls so this appeals to older generations of hams. Now we look Yaesu's FTDX10, well this rig is a cup above the other two cause the RX section is that good but the operational ability takes some time to master, its not easy peasy cause you need to RTFM but anyone coming from another older Yaesu has no issues but this does more than the original stock K3 which is and will be a very complicated radio for the masses but has had a cult like following.
You also have the stand alone SDR radio's from Flex and Anan, these are in a different group cause the Flex is king of remote shack operation, its the mouse click away radio, appeals to computer type and once mastered its an easy radio to use but there is a learning curve but old dogs have been able to master it. Then you have the Anan which is the computer geeks dream machine, there is NO MANUAL its all run by firmware and software developed by users so its like a book of the month club but its performance is a cut above especially when it comes to noise reduction but its not easy peasy, its a hard radio to learn but most buyers take on that challenge or its seen on the used for sale shelf very fast.
Next you have the higher end radios such as the FTDX101D/MP, the Icom 7610, and the Kenwood TS890S, well these radio's are in a different class cause you have to RTFM if you wanna really get down to what these radio's can really do or your just buying the radio to impress your buddies and don't really understand how to make real use of all the features. The only problem I see with the Yaesu FTDX101D is the radio does soo much it frustrates allot of users, either they don't read or understand the manual or they get confused with the large array of controls but this radio is one of the best DX and contesting rigs out there but again someone who has had Yaesu's before don't find any issues with the rig but you still have that learning curve. Next is the Icom which offeres two RX sections like the FTDX101 series but its a little light on controlling these two RX sections so there is another learning curve to get used to same double access controls or lack of. This can be solved with buying there IC7851 but most don't have $12k plus to plunk down on a radio but the 7610 is I would say is one of the easier hi end rigs to use but is far more complicated than the 7300. Next is the TS890 which is like a 590 on steroids', its another top RX section and has more menus on the rig which I find most users don't really use all that much but it has the right amount of controls and menus to make most happy. With all these radio's there is the GUI which seems like that is why some buy radio's over others yes its the display which seems to drive the markets on who buys what today, its not how good the RX section is but the GUI which in our past has never had that much influence in ones purchase but like everything else since the cell phones big displays and tablet market this is a driving force plus this is why the stand alone sdr box does soo well its because of the GUI.
The only radio's above that I have not owned or used are the Anan and the 7851 but have had lost of time with the 590,7300,ftdx10 and the FTDX101D in which I have used in my own personal station but have used the Flex, 890S at other stations so your mileage may vary but I find when talking with friends on the air that certain radio's do present some operator confusion in how to use and once the op gets used to some radio's operation its very hard for them to get used to another. I have no issues with any and currently own the 101d and yes there was a learning cure but once that is over it easy for me to use but for some it seems hard but here again I have owned a few yeasu's in my past. I would say that for some a radio like the 7300 or the 590 is more than enough radio than they need cause of the easy peasy use, either present any challenges in operating but if you want a better RX well the you gotta try an read that manual cause the FTDX10 is better in the just above entry level.
There is a new Yaesu coming out which appears to be Yaesu's first SDR radio, its not a superhet so who knows cause the block diagram shows no roofing filter or mixer but time will tell if it is a simple rig to use but it very well may give the 7300 a run for its money plus have the DVI display output but at the $1k price its looks like a very good entry level simple rig to use, time will tell. If all these new radio's are way to much to use just fin a good HW101 and PS and be happy!