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In my view: Deeper than 130 ft (usually requiring trimix to mitigate narcosis, though some still do it on air). Staying beyond NDL (mandatory deco stops), typically involving richer O2 gas than the bottom gas. Improper switching has played a role in numerous fatalities. Hard overhead (e.g...

Typically it's the fuzzy, fleece material that might have an issue. I've never had an issue (or heard of anyone) with the 4th Element fabrics. Are you manually pressing the vent, or is it unscrewed/open so it will auto-vent if you tilt to the right (putting the vent at the highest point)? Also...

The bends are due to insufficient ambient pressure, not the partial pressure gradient or difference. As you ascend (regardless of what you're breathing), the ambient pressure drops, and if it drops more than about 70% of a tissue's inert gas content, bad things start happening. (The other way to...

I'd say you still have a factor of 2, but the team has a factor of 4 (as would a BM team prior to failure). However, I agree configuration matters, since the BM failure is potentially more expensive. Considering that in the strategy choice is a good thing. <sigh> That's the problem with these...

Not necessarily, as Thirds, etc. can be done in metric pretty easily. I apologize for not putting the metric equivalent of 206 bar (3000 psi / most AL tanks), 250 bar (3600 psi), and 7/14 bar adjustments(100/200 psi), but I thought most could convert easily enough. (14.5 psi per bar) If you use...

As we all know, one of the fundamental tenets of cave diving is to always have at least 2x the gas needed to exit. This obviously allows one to air-share in the event of one member's catastrophic loss of gas and is the basis for the Rule of Thirds: 1 in + 2 out = 3 total, assuming no flow. By...

For me in 72°F, there's about 5 lb more lead needed for a trilaminate drysuit (4th Element Xerotherm layers) compared to a 5 mm wetsuit. However, for multiple days, I'd want a 7mm wetsuit to combat the cold accumulation (comparable weighting). If it's hot topside, I'm pulling down the top of...

Perhaps you should review your nitrox class materials for the answer. As stated many times, it's the PARTIAL pressure gradient that drives inert gas movement, and inert gas movement is integral to IBCD.

From your dive computer manual: In other words, it reset your mix to EAN50 behind your back, which has a 1.4 PO2 (alarm limit) at 60 ft. I would turn off that asinine "feature".

I would urge you to base things on the standard doubles & SM approaches. No need to reinvent the wheel. Left post second stage on a short hose routed behind your neck and into a 90 or 120 degree elbow attached to the second stage. Bungee to hold the second stage just below your chin...

Independent doubles strikes me as the worst of the backmount & sidemount worlds. Why not stick to a mainstream approach when starting out and benefit from the experience of others?

I would not tip an instructor. I want to know I earned the cert, avoiding any semblance of impropriety. TBH, I suspect it would have been refused on similar grounds had I even tried. A couple months or so later, I had the opportunity to buy my instructor dinner, which was graciously accepted.

IIRC, the PO2 required for meaningful vacancy is well in excess of modern safety guidelines. (I don't have my copy of Powell handy to check ATM.)

The gas switch, obviously. Also, why have you moved the goal posts talking about IBCD, a concern for a tiny fraction of technical divers making 150+ m dives? Can you please stick to a scenario that is relevant to the vast majority of the populace?

Not hard to explain at all. IBCD is caused by... wait for it ... the partial pressure gradients of the inert gases. Whether you add more gas or drop the level of tolerated tension matters not. Excessive super saturation is going to ruin your day.

Angling the 1st stage makes for a straight hose (i.e., better). I suspect it'll make more sense when you get "hands-on".

The tank (and wing) is in the way, and that hose (as well as the HP/SPG hose) is headed toward your side anyway. Whatever works for you, really.

Turret is useless for single-tank diving in my view, since primary donate hose lengths will not impede movement. It's nice to have on the right doubles post (won't kink during a single-file shared exit). My recommend is to get a non-turret now, and move it to deco service if you go down the tech...

It's disheartening they added a dedicated Air mode in the first place. I believe that was for feature compatibility with competitors, exacerbated by many new OW divers not understanding Air == Nx21. (Not faulting SW for doing so, so more a comment about the apparent market demand.)

Most streamlined would be a transmitter sending tank pressure to an Air Integrated (AI) capable computer. If you don't have such a computer (and don't want to sell yours and buy one), then I'd suggest a simple brass & glass SPG with a boltsnap attached to enable clipping to your hip D-ring.