I can never remember referring to a regulator as life support. Most times that I can remember it being used by others was in an attempt to win an argument or to scare people away from trying to service their regs. It ranks right up there with "zero tolerance" and "you're going to die" in the useless hysterical phrases list. Too many divers don't understand how their regulators work and they are deathly afraid of opening one up because it's "life support"! Shenanigans. The average diver has more than enough mechanical aptitude to disassemble and reassemble a regulator after only reading Vance Harlow's regulator book. Heck, you might not even need to read the book: I sure didn't. But then, I've been playing with cars on a professional basis since 1969. I'm above average when it comes to mechanical aptitude. I'm way above average when it comes to curiosity about how things work. In any case, regulators shouldn't be a conundrum for you. Even if you don't service your own, learn how they work. Get someone who does understand how they work to help you if needed. You might even consider taking the Hog regulator class even if you don't own a Hog. Most of what you learn in there is transferable to other regs.
So the next time someone throws the "but it's life support" argument at you, realize that it's nothing but hysteria, an appeal to danger, that's being substituted for actual logic. The very same people probably think that a mask on your forehead is a sign of diver distress. Don't let your understanding of diving be formed by myths, hysteria and bad logic. Look past their hype and strip away the layers of ignorance and fear. Choose understanding over all else.