I think I was misunderstood. My post was addressing the folks who seemed to be implying that I was leaping into sidemount because it was "cool". So far, none of my DIR friends has said much to me about this. I don't expect them to like it, but that doesn't matter. I WAS surprised to see resistance from the non-DIR people, though . . .
Having cut my tech teeth in a DIR-centric class, a choice I made after a year and a half of careful consideration of all the options available to me, I have 2psi of input here.
I am very glad I made the decision, as the rigor of the course and the training standards really helped discipline my position in the water and turbo-charged my skill set. I liken it to having gone thru scuba boot camp, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
That being said, I hold true to the claimed principle of any rational instructor that the ultimate goal is to produce a thinking diver. Too often in discussions with the DIR folk I hear/read what begins to sound/look like blind adherence to a set of principles because the group-think is that this is the best way to do things.
I like to use the best tool for the job at hand.
When I did Cave 1 my instructor (who is adamantly not DIR) taught the course in sidemount. After seeing how stable he was in the water, how easily he moved through the bedding planes, and how easy he had it getting from the lot to the water, all the while I'm humping a set of 104's, I'm sitting in the water saying to myself that this looks like a much better way to do things.
I have been playing with the idea for some time now, after jumping in the pool with just a stage and a BP, using lung volume to control buoyancy, and I have to say that the experience was liberating on many different levels. Those "old timers" (no disrespect) who used the Hawaiian sling were definitely on to something...
I am pursuing SM for the same reasons that I think you are: it seems like it is much easier on the body, and provides a much more stable platform in the water: in essence it seems, for many applications, a better way to do things. DIR is only as good as the diver who thinks it through for him/herself. For me I see it as an appropriate method about 85% of the time, but not the only method. For the other 15% of the time there are better alternatives. Case in point would be the train of thought that would bring someone to believe that a 160lb DIR compliant rebreather is a good idea... I just don't see it - but that is just me. When I think about it it is like handing a guy a hammer, after a while, everything begins to look like a nail. Sometimes it is much better to use a screwdriver. I see many folks (some whom I respect very much) get trapped by the DIR mentality and never think outside the box.
Ultimately a diver should completely think through their configuration, and know it's strengths and weaknesses - if you find yourself saying "there's a better way" you'd be foolish not to pursue it.
