And here I was about to go with filmless DTNVG's...now I'm considering a PVS-14/chinaskeet combo instead, or two PVS-14's and a COTI. Too many options, too much money.
The only time I every used thermals was for scanning for threats while in a patrol base or something, and the old one's had terrible battery life. But if this is the way of the future, no reason to get DTNVG's for a shitload of money just for flat range theatrics when the dual-band setup appears to be the real world winner. Plan would be thermal on non-dominant eye, PVS-14 on dominant eye for passive aiming through eotech etc.
The modern use case is similar. Modern thermals also still kinda suck. Innovation lags in comparison to all the other digital tech that's skyrocketing. The COTI is super neat and would be better at everything except for stuff like patrol bases and guard towers. Otherwise you probably want the skeet or binos - and depending on the terrain, maybe a 14/skeet combo.
The COTI sucks and you'll be disappointed when you get it but it's all we've got...
You'd be really happy with the DTNVG's, I'm sure - if it was me and I could swing it, I'd get the DTNVG's and some 1000 dollar detector.