The AltaPro video was very professionally crafted, the Alta AC... Alta8 is impressive both in design & operation capabilities. On top of that it's American designed. Couldn't agree more with the majority of the highlights and the various qualities of the large scale optional configurations: payloads, bottom / top gimbals, LED panels, smooth flight, etc.
In my Sr years and building up a sUAV business for my 2nd life prior to calling it retirement; and while employed elsewhere to cover the costs of business startup. I agree, these UAV's are tools... as in Ag, Construction, Paving... it's not the need of the "new" products, it's more the lifespan of the assets, the tools. I'm not concerned my inventory will age, as long as it meets the needs for future projects and the platform's popularity provides for several years parts availability. My view of "Professional grade" is not associated to the size, it's associated to the ability to provide long term ROI. If the sUAV business format was associated to massive quick profit, then a short ROI is justified... but I don't think that applies to the majority of sUAV shops.
That carries over to the investment of the business and all the operational costs & profits. That begins with the cost of the products (hardware, software, lenses, licenses, etc) in comparison to the scope of the intended work. The Alta8 is a wonderful platform, as noted it's flexibility of platform is one of the top for it's scale; it's associated price tag is at the top too.
In a brief comparison... the Alta8 is 4-5x the price of a M600Pro that shares payload and operations. Not the intention to introduce other brands or platforms, but my point is a much lower cost for similar (plus / minus) functionality is available. Lg Cameras mounted, Lindar, RTK or various SAR payloads are available on both. I fully agree, the software is more open with the Alta, although via SDK kits now openly provided by manufacturers several 3rd party developers write their own kernels adding additional features within a platform that used to be considered tightly closed software.
For a limited budget, able to spread funds over all products and not consumed on 1 platform is more acceptable and more accepted by Finance Business Mgmt that may be needed to fund a startup. My perspective is small business, not large or enterprise. With the cost of various supportive tools: software, 3D modeling, lenses, cameras, GPS RTK units, etc. The output of work: video, photos, or data would be the measure of the Professional Product and "professional product" includes lenses, sensors or off site post production software... dependent on AC platform providing acceptable data collection.
How many drones does a business need? For some that's one or 2 of the same low cost model. For others, it depends on the scope of the intended work: 2 small, 2 fast, 1-4 mid, 1- 4 large might be the inventory for other shops. Like the military SOG analogy... the arsenal is wide from small 22 cal up to 50 cal, plus various tube busters; what's taken down range depends on the mission. Taking a 50 through a building shake down isn't ideal and a 556 up ridge wouldn't be ideal.
The Cinema events I've been able to witness, the big platforms that carry large format media has been mixed... I've seen Alta and others... the Alta hasn't been the majority of the large platform. Often cinema requires agility and speed while carrying a top notch camera, that appears to be met by the X7S with light carbon lenses due to speed of the I2 platform.
Construction site survey, the city may not desire a large platform and apply pressure to company to use smaller platform that provides basically identical data collection. Roof & Insurance normally use small highly portable hardware. Ag & multisprectrum cameras tend to be fixed wing or smaller drone units. Bridge, Towers or Wind Generator inspections, there are other models providing upper gimbal mount options with RTK with very accurate stable zoom cameras at a much lower cost.
The Alta is an example of a top notch craft no doubt, and it's strengths shine... I'd like to have a few too, not in my budget and not justified for work intended.
I'll take a Jeep over a Land Rover for multiple reasons if it meets my needs... cost being one.