hoytbwhntr, I can tell you that I have never used the viewing screen. I suppose it depends on how you plant to use it. For me it makes most sense to have two compact flash cards and when I go out to "check" the camera I simply pull the card out and replace it with the other one. I actually wanted the one without the view screen but it was a gift from my wife and the place she ordered it from only had the ones with the screen. I am going to buy a second one and will not get the screen on that one.

The batteries last about 2 months from many posts I have read. I have had mine out for a month and a half and am still on the first set so 2 months sounds pretty close.