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Guest
I can inspect my brakes without removing them and brake parts cost a lot more than regulator parts. Basically, after X dives, or X years, a regulator needs to be inspected from the inside out. There are are only a few, relatively inexpensive, parts required to replace the wear parts. Once you have the regulator apart to inspect it, there really is no reason why you wouldn't replace the wear parts at that time.
It's kind of like the clutch on a manual transmission vehicle. The cost to remove the transmission is $1500 plus. The cost to replace the clutch is less than $200. Unless the clutch is brand new, you replace it when you have the transmission removed rather than paying an extra $1500 to pull the transmission out when it actually wears out..
i suspect the problem is that diyer just go about this differently. we are not really influenced by labor costs and, with scuba, we usually have to be concerned with getting parts. i had my wife's honda in for some recall work over a year ago. they did an inspection and recommended replacing the brakes and the o2 sensor with price tag over $1.OOO. no thanks. a couple months ago i did the brake job after the brakes started squealing [sensor, not metal to metal]. remaining life in the pads was weeks. the warning light [O2 sensor] is still on and car runs good. maybe it is costing me 1 mpg so i'll take a look at doing that and the timing belt when the weather cools off.
i just took a spare air 2 apart to confirm a part compatibility for a friend. i will have to clean it up before i reassemble. there were no leaks so i doubt if i will replace any of the o-rings. the seat is deeply engraved and i make my own seats for pennies each so it will get replaced but i will probably look at the flip side - old and successful habits die hard.