if you can't see players close to you and where you are on the map the radar is useless. i didn't particularly like the gfx of the old map but it had a purpose since i could see players close to me (scroll over them to see gang tag or just name) and noobs could easily realise where they were on the gmap.
as of now, all the new radar does is use up space because what you see on the radar is basically what you see on your full screen