Better is situational and contextual. Everyone's needs are uniquely theirs, their context slightly different.
Sure. For those that want to spend more money on something that is less repairable, doesn't last as long, is less streamlined, offers less customizing options and makes obtaining correct trim and stability underwater more difficult, I would recommend something OTHER than a backplate and wing.
Many (most?) divers have fairly simple needs to satisfy. Tech, cave, deco, scooters, canister lights, rebreathers, stage bottles, even doubles - I would wager that a significantly higher number of divers are in the "don't" camp than are in the "do" camp.
Agreed, but I suspect that the problem isn't that these people don't want to try out a canister light or fly a scooter or stay longer, deeper, in a place less explored... It's that they see it as a huge step... A radical departure from what they were trained to do. They see that doing dives like what you're mentioning requires a lot more expense, diligence, training, and money and effort than they're willing to put into their hobby... And that's simply not true.
Well, it's true if they just spent $600 on a BC that is only good for one "type" of diving. It's easy for them to assume, then, that they're gonna need to spend ANOTHER $600-plus for a DIFFERENT "type" of BC for their DIFFERENT "type" of diving.
Add all the different "types" of diving - according to your definitions - and you could quickly go broke buying all of the different "types" of gear - and never even have a single dollar to go diving on.
That's why real "tech" divers don't use the word "tech" - it's because there really IS no difference between "recreational" and "technical" diving. It's all the same. All of the same basic rules still apply. Sure, the basics are expanded on, but they're still the same basic rules. It's not like one set of rules apply to one "type" of diving, while they don't apply in another "type" of diving. Of course, you won't see that until you've become "tech" - it's the "recreational" divers that have created the term, not those standing on the "tech" side of the fence.
...But relative to backplates and wings, why not use them in "rec" diving too? If they work for both, then won't that make the transition seamless and easy? I mean, if you were to ever want to... A backplate and wing still provides a slimmer, better trimmed profile in a package that's more customizable and for less money on a 30-foot reef dive, too. You don't have to take it to 300' to enjoy those benefits... Although you might find yourself gravitating toward that when you realize that there's nothing stopping you from doing it. Amazing things happen when you're totally comfortable and balanced in the rig that's built exactly as you want it and all of your gear works properly.
...Or maybe not. It's up to you. The benefits of proper trim and stability and buoyancy in a totally customizable package that lasts for thousands of dives are apparent even in 10' of water... ESPECIALLY in 10' of water. That's why we practice for "game day dives" in 10' of water.
Facts about benefits do not speak to better. Better is what is right for that particular diver, for his or her context, for his or her budget, for his or her experience, for his or her future diving aspirations. When balancing the equation some of the benefits quickly fall away because they are irrelevant or not cost justified or some other reason.
Superiour is in the eyes of the beholder. It IS opinion, it is NOT fact.
True. Okay, I gave a bunch of FACTS as to why I have the OPINION that backplates and wings are "superior." You're welcome to have a differing opinion. I might be more empathetic if you had listed FACTS supporting your OPINION. What does a ScubaPro Classic Plus do for a diver that a backplate and wing doesn't?
...Not that it really matters. Look at the title of this thread... The OP was curious about switching from a jacket BC into a backplate and wing. I gave him some of the reasons why someone might want to do that, and some FACTS that most people, including myself, consider benefits. I also gave him some recommendations regarding configuration and such. If you'd like to argue that poodle jackets are better, then feel free... But you might want to do it in another thread - it would be off-topic here.