Having found this board, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the varying configurations and the reasoning behind them. I have watched the DIR divers have their say and thought deeply about the philosophy they espouse. I have read for days and days and learned more than I ever thought I would about diving, it's equipment and the ways to use it.
I have come to the conclusion that Hogarthian is where I find myself, and I have started to change the way I rig my gear and make choices in purchasing. As I dive a BC, that is what I am starting to refine. I'm making changes such as streamlining as best I can, about to go the necklace backup and eventually a long hose.
Ultimately, I will at least make and try out a backplate configuration to see how that fares. I think that many people are starting to make similar moves without going directly to a backplate simply because of cost. If you have already made a significant investment in your gear, are you going to go out and rebuy it all over again? Not unless you have more free cash than I do, but a gradual refinement and move in the hogarthian direction is a reasonable way to go about it.
It is this that brings me into the hogarthian fold. DIR has one way, and only one way, whereas the members on this section of the forum are more open to compromises and gradual changes, which makes it easier for people to come over to another side of diving.
I've had people start to ask me why I rig my gear the way I do, and that leads to discussions, which help explore reasonings, which in turn continues to make me think about WHY I'm doing things the way I do. It helps that I dive with a few people who are already on backplates and they're helping me work through my choices and, just like here, I benefit from their experience and they encourage me to think about why I'm doing something rather than just follow blindly.
So, I think it is possible to use a BC in a hogarthian style, as a general move towards a more efficient and thought directed way of diving.
Thanks, I look forward to continuing to learn here.
Justin.