I have two Excals an 800 ( that was changed from a 1000 ) and a 1000. I also had two DFPIs and sold one. Because of health conditions I've considered selling the other DF but just can't pull the trigger even though I don't use it anymore.
Although I hunt with the Excal 1000 almost exclusively because I don't dig all the junk and find the gold at a very respectable depth. The DF has paid for ALL my detectors ( 6 ) , wetsuits, scoops, waders and everything associated with this game. It's hard to get rid of something that you know has the potential to, and has kicked butt.
The DF is very noisy and you have to get use to it. The main thing I found with the DF ( beside learning it ) is CONFIDENCE , you have to have the confidence that you are going to find gold that the Excal has missed.
Most of you know Cupajo, in my opinion he is a Master with the DFPI and will find gold that others have missed, there's no doubt about it, he knows what he's doing. CJ got me off on the right foot when I got into water hunting and the DF was my only water machine and I found my share of gold. I also would like to add that I have a hearing problem and can only imagine how much better I could have done if I wasn't handicapped with this problem.
So to answer your question, I would never get rid of the Excalibur, it's a bear of a machine, but, if you have areas that aren't iron infested, you can pick up a DFPI very reasonable and have some fun with it.
I would also like to add, and this is ONLY MY OPINION from owning both, the DFPI is a lot more than 2" deeper than the Excal.
This is not to start a debate or argue, again it's just MHO. Those of you that are friends with Clive may want to get his opinion on the subject.