Greg G....
Come on, now, man. Separate the people from the technique. I have not taken any DIR classes, if you don't include my cavern class (in which I dived rented open-water gear). I now dive DIR. I'm very happy to have been exposed to so many good ideas, and I gravitated to DIR slowly.
While I agree entirely that the overzealous DIR fanatics do nothing but harm, it doesn't mean DIR itself isn't worth considering.
I don't claim your kit is a marketing ploy by SeaQuest or Sherwood, do I? Please don't claim my kit is a marketing ploy by Halcyon. In fact, the only Halcyon gear I own is a $12 harness pocket. There are as many companies making gear appropriate for DIR as there are companies making gear not appropriate for DIR. There's no evidence that it's a marketing ploy.
choose the best gear and configuration that works for the type of diving you do
Truer words have never been said. If you're planning on doing normal open-water rec dives, there are many, many gear choices which will all perform very well for you and keep you very safe. If you're going to be doing technical or overhead diving, though, your choices become limited... and DIR is just what results from critical thought about those limitations. Personally, I don't see any particular reason to prefer DIR over any other system for open water diving -- use what you like, so long as it's safe.
As I've said before, DIR is really nothing more than a methodical, well-organized diving system -- one which has proven its valor through many thousands of successful, challenging dives. Even if you don't want a backplate, and even if you don't want to dive in caves, you can probably still benefit from a little critical thought about your gear and your techniques. Even if you don't like those ******* WKPP guys, and even if you don't plan on being a "techie," you should still be able to appreciate the precision and functionality of the DIR configuration and techniques. Shouldn't you? Comments welcome.
- Warren