This is from Petzl's website:
"The new progressive descent control system in the GRIGRI 2 is specially designed to offer smooth, even lowering action - there's a larger 'sweet spot' when lowering a climber or rappelling."
I think folks are making a lot of assumptions by declaring that it is not designed for or suitable for rappelling. Petzl's technical documentation can sometimes be very extensive and detailed and other times it may have huge omissions. I agree with the near-consensus that there are better devices out there for underground use.
I have done rock climbs where I brought a Grigri for belay use and an ATC for rappelling, because I often prefer rappelling on 2 strands and don't like the rap control with the Grigri (at least the original).
Damn, Derek- consider me spanked.
I've always held up Petzl as a example of thorough technical documentation- I haven't come across this before. I could play devil's advocate and suggest that Petzl engineers and Petzl marketing/sales have different ideas about how the device should be employed- but I doubt that very much. In my own varied and sundry careers, I've been aware of the myriad things Sales promises that Engineering can't- or doesn't want to- deliver on.
I saw there are two Petzl folks registered for Convention- maybe I'll see their name tags and ask about it.
And another thumbs up for the Simple. I recently had the opportunity to do Valhalla, and in deference to my host, I brought my stainless SMC rack. While the rack did what it was supposed to do, when I bottomed, I wished I had given my Simple a chance.
A bit like a friend of mine who is relocating to Nepal for a USAID position. As there are huge vehicle import hassles in Nepal, he ordered a made in India 4WD SUV from a Kathmandu dealer- and the current chain of correspondence(including photos) would seem to indicate that a tractor is awaiting his arrival in Nepal. A tractor would be an OK way to get around- but the SUV would be better.