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So here's where I'd go.
John has his own brand of SS plate for about $90, I'd look at that or the DSS Large plate about $250, he should have one in stock. Simply for cost, the NESS plate is likely fine unless you want the DSS weight plates. The plates can be removed in about 5 minutes, it's not hard if you're flying to remove, but you will obviously have to replace that with lead on a belt or other source when travelling, need to assess how much local vs. flying diving you'll be doing to make that decision. It may be worth getting a wing that doesn't need an STA for travel, and then get a weighted STA for local diving, steel tanks are really going to be the biggest difference for you though. Even just going from an AL80 to an LP72 will cut almost 5lbs off of your belt with less weight on land. PST95's or 104's are 3.3lbs negative so that is about 8lbs off of your belt compared to an AL80, well worth the investment in these bottles.
scuba tanks
These are short little things but are 3.3lbs negative as well and hold 82CF, they're just really short. Nifty little bottles though
Scuba tanks Steel doubles Nitrox
Their big brothers, only 1.3lbs negative, but that's 6lbs off of your belt from an AL80 and they hold just over 120CF of air. Being 6'2" or taller is best for these beasties
scuba tanks
Look like 119's maybe which are 2lbs ish negative, could be wrong, but also a decent deal, may make a deal on all 4 bottles. $150/bottle is a great price for steels, $200-$250 is normal.
Harness, the Dive Rite Deluxe and all of the one piece harnesses adjust the same way, pull the waist strap up through the shoulder straps. With DSS rig you can use their slide adapter thing on one side with these, for your size you might need the chest strap to keep the shoulders where they should be so I'd at least start with that one. You can use this just like a one piece harness if you want to down the road by removing the chest strap *takes about 30 seconds*. Adjustment for exposure protection is mainly to compensate for the shoulders becoming tight, at your size I'd bet that the difference between 3mm and 7mm is pretty negligible, so I'd set it with the 7mm on and it should be close enough even without exposure protection.
Transplate has cinch straps on the shoulders so once you put the waist strap in it doesn't move, there's no real adjustment here, only adjustment is where the transition plates come up from the waist strap for the shoulders and even with exposure protection those are pretty much a set and forget type item, shoulder straps are also pretty much set and forget since they stay pretty loose if fitted properly.
Wings, touch and feel and find the one you like best, can't really go wrong. John likes moving inventory so he'll likely cut you a deal on something he has boat loads of but you really can't go wrong with any of the major brands. If you like the Oxycheq, get the Oxycheq, it's a good wing. If you like another one get that, don't know any of John's staff, but know him and he's a very knowledgeable on all of this stuff and talking to him directly may get you some real good answers. Ask to see his rig and go from there, he's certainly not the skinniest guy on the planet and seeing his rig may help you get a good start on yours since he has access to whatever he wants.
John has his own brand of SS plate for about $90, I'd look at that or the DSS Large plate about $250, he should have one in stock. Simply for cost, the NESS plate is likely fine unless you want the DSS weight plates. The plates can be removed in about 5 minutes, it's not hard if you're flying to remove, but you will obviously have to replace that with lead on a belt or other source when travelling, need to assess how much local vs. flying diving you'll be doing to make that decision. It may be worth getting a wing that doesn't need an STA for travel, and then get a weighted STA for local diving, steel tanks are really going to be the biggest difference for you though. Even just going from an AL80 to an LP72 will cut almost 5lbs off of your belt with less weight on land. PST95's or 104's are 3.3lbs negative so that is about 8lbs off of your belt compared to an AL80, well worth the investment in these bottles.
scuba tanks
These are short little things but are 3.3lbs negative as well and hold 82CF, they're just really short. Nifty little bottles though
Scuba tanks Steel doubles Nitrox
Their big brothers, only 1.3lbs negative, but that's 6lbs off of your belt from an AL80 and they hold just over 120CF of air. Being 6'2" or taller is best for these beasties
scuba tanks
Look like 119's maybe which are 2lbs ish negative, could be wrong, but also a decent deal, may make a deal on all 4 bottles. $150/bottle is a great price for steels, $200-$250 is normal.
Harness, the Dive Rite Deluxe and all of the one piece harnesses adjust the same way, pull the waist strap up through the shoulder straps. With DSS rig you can use their slide adapter thing on one side with these, for your size you might need the chest strap to keep the shoulders where they should be so I'd at least start with that one. You can use this just like a one piece harness if you want to down the road by removing the chest strap *takes about 30 seconds*. Adjustment for exposure protection is mainly to compensate for the shoulders becoming tight, at your size I'd bet that the difference between 3mm and 7mm is pretty negligible, so I'd set it with the 7mm on and it should be close enough even without exposure protection.
Transplate has cinch straps on the shoulders so once you put the waist strap in it doesn't move, there's no real adjustment here, only adjustment is where the transition plates come up from the waist strap for the shoulders and even with exposure protection those are pretty much a set and forget type item, shoulder straps are also pretty much set and forget since they stay pretty loose if fitted properly.
Wings, touch and feel and find the one you like best, can't really go wrong. John likes moving inventory so he'll likely cut you a deal on something he has boat loads of but you really can't go wrong with any of the major brands. If you like the Oxycheq, get the Oxycheq, it's a good wing. If you like another one get that, don't know any of John's staff, but know him and he's a very knowledgeable on all of this stuff and talking to him directly may get you some real good answers. Ask to see his rig and go from there, he's certainly not the skinniest guy on the planet and seeing his rig may help you get a good start on yours since he has access to whatever he wants.
