I don't rely on my buddy for my personal redundancy. I like being cautious and self-reliant where possible. I still use a watch for any dives deep enough to have a stop because it displays seconds and my dive computer does not, and I don't want to be fiddling with my dive computer on a dive. Fiddling with my watch is fine. I stopped bothering with using tables as an in-water backup to the dive computer. If your computer fails your dive is over and tables add very little value at that point.
I would not want a console for any reason. It is bulky enough to be an impediment. No thanks, brass and glass all the way, or the plastic equivalent. It just makes diving better, though personal preferences will vary. My next computer will be a Shearwater, but I am only going to dive 2 computers when the consequences of failure merit the added complexity of wearing and managing 2 computers. Technical dive, liveaboard charter, etc. Simplicity brings it's own rewards.