Tracking Devices

[a64pilot]

There have been a few threads about Delorme inreach products and something called a Yellow Brick I believe.
The recent boat that has gone missing and the rescue of the crew off the coast of GA in the US has me thinking that some kind of tracking device that will allow family to follow you and be something that can be queried as to its position may well be something to have.
Not to replace an Epirb and or PLB's AIS MOB devices etc., but none of those would allow family to check on you, allow txt messages and be a way of finding your boat should it go missing, and I think the Delorme and maybe a Yellow brick will?
So I'm asking if one stands out as better and or cheaper than the others. I'm not thinking so much about acquisition costs as that just isn't that great, but I can see how a service plan along the lines of cell phones, satellite TV etc, can eat you alive over time.
Ideal would I think be one that you can place in a hold status when your not on passage and have turned back on when you are, but not have to pay exorbitant turn off and turn on fees.

So what device and or service plan meets that? Can other devices use different services, or are they proprietary?
I know essentially nothing about these things, and until very recently have not considered one, so I'm starting from scratch.
Any suggestions?