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Psy, I suspect I met you in Cape Town, the day I lost the wing nut for my back plate. Otherwise, you are the second person to ask me the same question in short succession.
Since I was asked that about two months ago, I have pondered the question. Andy's post in the side mount area of SB has solidified my opinion. I am not a side mount diver, but have dived with side mount instructor trainers in Florida caves. These guys are using SM for what it originally was intended - a sleek profile to slip between rocks, where BM just doesn't fit. I've seen it in practice, and SM is a powerful tool in this environment.
I've seen those same instructor trainers agonise with students over harnesses, back plates, hose placements and things I don't understand. It involves video, minor adjustments and then more tinkering to get it right. Then you change the size of the tanks and start again. To learn the basics, I'm sure someone here can teach you. To breath off two tanks, one under each arm, borrow my harness and clip two stages to the D rings.
I cannot think of a single dive site in South Africa where SM is essential, so to learn to do it properly is almost certainly not going to happen here in South Africa. Sigh - SM just got more expensive.