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Guest
Any water inside a first stage that is allowed to just sit there is always a bad idea and can cause damage.
If you must soak your first stage, at least do it when the regulator is on a cylinder (turned on).
If you don't think that water inside your first stage is not damaging, then go ahead and keep doing what you are doing.
What damage does clean fresh water do inside a first stage? If it is easier, perhaps we should specifically consider a balanced piston first stage. What part(s) are damaged and what is the nature of that damage?
EDIT: Well I can think of one problem that would be exacerbated by even FW exposure. Older Scubapro MKk20s had a brass piston with a brass tip (no chrome) engaging the HP seat. The sealing surfaace had problems with tarnish causing IP instability. They needed a good cleaning of the piston tip about every 6 months. It would probably be hard to find any today that have not ben switched out to the current composit piston.
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