My BC doesn't have a pull dump at the inflation hose elbow. For me, it's easy as pie. I just breath the Air2 as i would a normal octo and I've practiced venting my BC with the right hand on the pull dump cord. Not that radically different from using the BC inflator/deflator overhead with the left hand.
I'm not arguing the Air2 is "better" than a plain old octo, but most criticisms of it come from non-Air2 users, and most Air2 users (even those who don't use them any longer) seem to be they're a breeze to use. I think most criticisms of it are nonsense, but that's just my opinion. I still think that a uniform configuration becomes much more critical in technical, team diving. Much more. I still think some DIR equipment (or all for that matter) can make a rec diving safer and more fun, though I realize you can't be partially DIR. It's like being a little bit pregnant.
But I think I've benefitted from their ideas and what gear configuration changes I've made, and I'm grateful for their thinking. I'm beginning to think I must be very odd because I'm not offended I can't put the DIR label on whatever configuration I want, yet I still like their ideas. I feel like if I was "normal" I should be offended my Air2 isn't considered DIR or something, lol. I, for one, like the DIR folks, because they have logical, well-reasoned, clearly-articulated ideas that have benefitted me.
Thanks, DIR guys! And I'm not a wannabe, insofar as I'm not a DIR pretender, nor do I feel compelled to make further gear changes--at least right now. But the DIR Fundamentals book has really challenged my thinking and motivated me to practice and dive differently.
I guess the labels must mean a lot more to some folks in ways that maybe I simply can't understand because of my personal makeup.
