Reefguy, I'm no fan of longlines but trying to start a gear fight on this thread does nothing but cloud the issue. Have you ever contemplated the expression "Two wrongs don't make a right"?
You know, PacketSniffer I shouldn't even dignify your post with a lenthy response but since the moderators won't let me answer you with a fitting one word adjective that would well describe your post I will make a couple of points.
I do know the efficiency of the rebreather, the stealth capability and as well the task loading and stand by my original assertions. I have worked with accomplished and veteran RB users and have used them myself in shark research.
Tom Mount is the top of the art and the science and would probably handle the task loading of spearfishing and many other tasks very well if he needed to but he doesn't. Also, there are very few Tom Mounts. The safety aspect of the no spearfishing with rebreathers law wasn't targeting the Tom Mounts of the world. Have you asked Tom his opinion on this issue?
As far as opinions maybe you should have asked the opinion of Zac Jones when you still could. I suspect it would have matched yours.
Also, read this article and consider the numbers:
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-11-23/news/rebreathe-deep-the-gathering-doom/
and this editorial about that article that demonstrates one of the main reasons rebreathers are banned from harvest - too much interest in going fishing and not enough attention to detail:
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-11-30/news/letters-for-november-30-december-6-2006/
As for "hacking it" anyone using closed circuit who makes a statement like that needs to switch back to OC before his macho-bravado gets him in trouble.
Write whatever you want. As I said before, the law is on the books, it'll stay there and I'm content with that. This is the last I'll post on this since there's nothing to be gained going any further. You'll keep your opinion and I'll keep mine no matter what else is said.
Biminibill