Since I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, I never mine in and out hikes… In face, I like them because I see a different view on the return… the view that no eyes in the back of my head could not see … :)))
I agree. And from a practical perspective, there is much less uncertainty about an out-and-back route, especially if you are unsure about the difficulty of the route (e.g. with respect to your wife’s ankle). If you can get in, you can probably get out. If you plan a loop, you never know what you might find after the half-way point, when it is harder to turn back.