An Axiom is a jacket BCD - a Dimension is a back-inflate design so they're
not similar except both say Aqualung on the side.
A very similar model to the Dimension without the I3 is the Balance. It doesn't have the Wrapture but that's mostly marketing also. It does have the Surelock, the flat valves and is back-inflate. And
The self-adjusting lumbar support system (SLS) automatically finds your lumbar to provide excellent comfort and support
Zeagles have a lumbar support also. Standard on the Stiletto since it's sewn in - optional on the standard Ranger IIRC. All have padded shoulders so will be as comfortable as the Dimension on surface carries. I shore dive a lot and load and carry my Ranger on my back often with a tank mounted and weights in the pockets.
In the price range/feature set you seem to want, another candidate is the Scubapro Knighthawk - a back inflate standard BCD.
You can't go wrong with any of them. I own a Ranger and one reason I bought it over the Knighthawk is the Ripcord weight system - it dumps both front pockets when pulled. Also they come with nifty handled weight bags which you remove from the top to hand up on a boat - they're harder to drop than the other systems which pull straight out - the weight tends to want to drop while you're holding the plastic clips. My other choice was a Knighthawk because I don't have a close Aqualung dealer.
It's my impression that Zeagle is big in SoFl. The factory is in Zephyr Hills and Aquatic something nearby is the largest Zeagle dealer in the country. Zeagle Express is their online division. I went into the FLL Divers Direct store once and they had
a lot of Zeagle BC's on the rack - must be a reason. A lot of Aualung gear also IIRC.
Don't let me talk you out of an I3 if that's what you really want. Just understand the possible downsides. As someone mentioned, most may never happen to you anyway if you're a casual recreational diver. I don't have any sort of agenda against Aqualung, if I didn't own Zeagle/Atomic they'd be high on my list although I'd probably buy Scubapro first since their dealer is about 45 miles closer.
It doesn't hurt much to rent a couple of times, get out on boats and ask other divers why they dive what they do. There may be some specific regional advantages for one brand over another. Or for the types of diving, spearos likely don't want any extra features that speargun lines can get tangled in. If you dive wrecks you try to minimize things that monofilament line can catch on. It's why wreck divers call caribiners "suicide clips".
