As I said, if it is a battery drain problem do;
1) have a switch to turn it off.
2) when using for navigation have iPod connected to 12v car electrical system.
Most of the time I would be using it to listening to music. No need for GPS there.
Why is a internet connection needed.
1) Maps shouldn't take that much room in a 64GB iPod Touch. Do I have that wrong?
2) My Garmin navigator doesn't have a internet connection and it works fine. All needed maps are stored in memory. How much I don't know.
Maybe GPS chip would make Touch thicker? Seems to be a competition to keep it slim. Maybe the 64GB has tons of software with no extra room for lot of music?
$130 seems excessive but then it is Apple we are talking about. I'll stick by my $50 to $80 as reasonable.
Note: I am looking at the iPod Touch to replace my 160GB iPod classic which, after 8 years, gave out. I used it for listening to music. I could get a 64GB iPod touch for $300 which would work but really the Touch should have GPS. Then It could replace my Garmin which need new maps which costs considerable . I'm not ready to step up to a iPhone with the memory I need for my music, at $850.