halocline
Contributor
Think about it this way. This regulator is potentionally going to save your hide. How much is your hide worth? Is this the time to be looking for the cheapest possible alternative??? I would think you would want something as good or better then your primary on your pony. YMMV
Here we go....the old classic. "How much is your life worth?"
What BS. Show me one shred of evidence that you're more likely to die with an inexpensive reg. Especially ironic in this thread because the "cheap" reg being discussed, the MK2, is one of the most reliable and proven regulators ever built. No dynamic o-rings subjected to HP air, 2 moving parts including the spring, and it can even tolerate flooding.
If money's an issue, you could look for a used MK2, and a used 109 metal 2nd stage, rebuild them, and have a totally bombproof pony reg that would out perform many expensive new regs. The unbalanced piston design will give you a little warning as the pony gets below 500 PSI.
But I guess my life is only worth used regulators.