Oh My God.....Apparently now I'm attacking the "BP/W community".....I never said that BP/W were hard to adjust for fit. I meant to imply (if not outright state) that customizing is awesome except when you don't know what you need/want. If I've never driven a car how would I have any idea whether I wanted automatic or manual.....6 cylinder or V-8......compact or SUV.....I (this means only my thoughts) felt that a jacket style was good for ME to get started with because it was almost "plug and play"...I also stated that as I learn more I will probably end up with a BP/W.
The comments I said about the tech divers was because I think the average person that frequents these forums is a more avid diver than the run of the mill rec diver.
Can't we all just get along?
I didn't feel you were attacking at all. I was just merely stating, that as someone who is both still sort of new to diving, and new to a bp/w set-up, that's it's not as hard as one would think (which is what I gathered from your post and for that I apologize). The beauty of a bp/w is you can add or subtract whatever you want. I am perfectly content with 2 shoulder d rings and 2 hip d rings, but other people may want 4 in the shoulder, or shoulder pads, or weight pockets, but all of that is fairly easy to add once you have everything initially set-up (you might have to re-string your bp/w, but once you've done it once, it's fairly quick and easy to do). As I progress in my diving, I will probably change my bp/w set-up a hundred times, especially since I plan to take GUE Fundies, but the brilliant thing is, I won't have to buy another set-up. Maybe some webbing, a couple of weight pockets for my cam bands, etc., but I have found (for me anyway) is that a bp/w is a piece of gear that will grow with me as a diver.
When I first started, I got a jacket bc because that is what I was trained in, but less than a year after buying my first set-up, I have already pretty much purchased an entire new kit (first a bp/w back in Dec., and now I have a hog reg set with long hose on the way). I am not saying bp/w is better for everyone. There are those who love it, those who hate it, those who are happy in a jacket, back inflate, others who don't need a BC and dive in just a back plate and harness, etc.
If a jacket is appropriate for you, then by all means dive a jacket. I for one, will not judge you for it. It is what you are comfortable in. I personally don't care what people dive, as long as they dive safely.
