While I'm not as doubtful as yourself about signal reliability, I did have a question about how low a voltage that a Hitec RX can go before it drops out. I haven't specifically asked anyone at Hitec, but the subject gets looked at in this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9469330/tm.htm
In other words, I'm not at all concerned about general reliability. I'm mostly concerned with how sensitive the Hitec RX is with regard to low voltage as compared to how other brands handle that little detail. According to one poster in that thread, Futaba appears to have a handle on it but I don't know about Hitec: That last point the poster (and Futaba) recommends is a no brainer. I am not intending nor would anyone intend, to run their RX batteries down to the nubs. I'm just wondering what to expect if you get into an unintentional situation with the Hitec RX.