As for on a deeper dive and running the primary a little lower cause you have a pony is IMHO poor gas management.
I've heard that before, but it was never explained. I can see that planning on using the air in the pony may not be optimal, but it's not necessarily always "poor gas management", is it?
Is it always considered "poor gas management" because one can't be sure the pony will function when needed?
If one doesn't have a deco obligation or other ceiling, and worst case scenario for a failed pony is a surface swim, does planning on using the pony still constitute "poor gas management"?
Dave C