Funny... I don't have a computer engineering degree, nor am I a master electrician. As a matter of fact, I HATE electronic problems. But I brought my powerstroke back from the grave, and it didn't take me much other than elbow grease and the cost of the parts. Which, contrary to popular belief, AREN'T all that expensive.
Changing an HPOP is almost the exact same process. Takes about the same amount of time. And a powerstroke won't leave you stranded because your IP decided to quit on you (it doesn't have anything that it depends on so heavily like the injection pump of an IDI; it's a lot of little pieces working together). Yes, it has it's weak points like the crank position sensor, but that takes all of 10 minutes and a 10mm wrench to change out.
My point is, does a Powerstroke have more parts to it? Yes. Does that mean there's more that can go wrong? Yes, it does. But they're just as simple to work on as any other engine I've ever dealt with, after I got familiar with it. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know sh*t about the powerstroke. Ask yourself, did YOU know anything about engines before you started working on your first one? How long did it take you to get comfortable around it and know it's insides and outs? It's the same with the newer engines. I for one, like the idea that my engine is smart enough to stop working when something's wrong with it. Can an IDI shut itself down to protect itself when something goes wrong? (it's an easy answer... no). Can an IDI tell you what's wrong with itself when you hook it up to a computer? Oh, no, because an IDI doesn't have any on-board diagnostics.
Long story short, it's all about preferences, man. Do I like my old IDI's? Hell yes I do, they're stupidly simple to work on. But do I like my Powerstroke better? You bet your a$$ I like it better. It's like a nicely refined, high class woman vs the girl-next-door of the IDI. Same concept, same end result, but lots nicer to look at and play with.
