This new feature uses the Google Maps interface, which is familiar and comfortable for me.

Using the old Google Earth method for creating KMLs was annoying: When using the Driving Directions option, you couldn't change the route in any way. I had to create mini-routes to get a path to my ultimate destination and then string those together manually into one single KML. (Geeky, yet annoying.)

I like this feature because you can alter the route on the fly, just like with directions in Google Maps. Need to make a 5 mile detour to hit that Delorme grid or to stop at a particular cache? Just drag the route over and voila! The one thing I don't like about it is that it's a bit slow to load when you move routes around.

Well, you could always do the proximity to the route. That setting actually is set when you do your pocket query.

When you choose the proximity while looking at the map, that just shows you the strip so you get an idea of how far out the setting would take you. I find that for normal, long trips, 0.5 mi is fine. Otherwise, you're driving 1.5+ miles out of your way.