1 - I prefer plastic
2 - Yes, I like the Simple warm neck
3 - Yes, silicone
4 - I expect Seaskin will be the most economical to get the glove side from
5 - I have standard placement. I have friends that like the DIR placement. DIR placement may be slightly harder to reach when wearing thick undergarments - but give a little easier dumping. I have no issue with dumping from the standard placement, however.
6 - I prefer Si Tech. The Apeks Low Profile dump seems to be problematic for a non-trivial number of people and I would rather not have the "high profile" Apeks dump. Also, having Si Tech made it very easy for me to swap my inflator valve for one with a power passthrough to run heated undergarments.
7 - I think the compressed neo socks are the way to go.
8 - I would definitely get the Kevlar knee pads. I got some of the other protection and now think it was a waste of money.
9 - I prefer the zippered pockets - but I do wish they were a little larger. I don't like velcro pockets as they always seem to want to close on their own, making it harder for me to get stuff out.
I would really recommend getting a P valve, if you weren't planning on it. You don't have to use it. But, once you do start using it, you will wonder why you ever didn't.
