I have mentioned, across multiple threads I think (so, pardon me for my perseveration if you have seen this before) that 'the gear doesn't make the diver, the diver makes the gear'.
Having said that:
1. I dive a backplate and wing. I have very specific, data-driven, reasons, based on physics and physiology, for doing that. The weight of the backplate is situated immediately adjacent to my physiologic center of lift (my torso). That 'encourages' horizontal trim. It moves weight 'up' on my torso, and minimizes the tendancy of lower-positioned weright to pull my legs and body down, to a 45 degree position. In that 45-degree headup/legs down position, my finning is inefficient, and part of the thrust vector directed dowenward (NOT a good thing) and only part of the thrust vector directed horizontally behind me (the desired 'good' thing').I believe that horizontal trim is the most efficient posture in the water, for the majority (but not all) of the time. On the suyrace, my BP/W provides buoyancy suffieint to keep me head above water - I do not need to have buoyancy that leaves me 'chest-above-water'. And, because my wieght is properly positoned/distributed, and the amount of weight is properly determined, my BP/wing - a back-inflate BCD, BTW - does NOT, ever, push me face-down in the water.
2. I dive a long hose (84") primary regulator, with a bungeed necklace. I have very specific reasons for doing that. I am completely persuaded, by both the logic and value, of 'primary donate', as the best approach to assisting another diver in an OOA event. And, in the event that my regulator is inadvertently kicked from my mouth, my alternate air source is immediately accessible, as it is right below my chin. I never have to search for it in the Bermuda 'triangle'. As an aside, I always dive with either identical, or equivalently performing, second stages - no needlessly detuned, less functional (but, of course, cheaper) second stages trying to pass themselves off as an adequate alternatre air source. Yes, OOA emergencies are actually quite rare, even those 'interruption of the gas supply' is one of the primary causes of diver deaths, at least accodirng to DAN. I have never need to assist another diver in an out-of-air emergency. BUT, if I ever do, I am comfortable that I am as well-positioined as possibleto do so.
3. I dive an AI computer. BUT, I only trust my SPG as the primary sorce of gas supply.
4. And - maybe, I should say 'but' - my SAC is 0.7 cfm. It has been that for YEARS, and it isn't going to change. I am as good as I am going to be.
So, where does that put me? How do I respond to the survey?
In the context of this survey, I also admit that I do not consider myself to be an 'average' diver. I actually do not know what that ('average') means. I DO consider myself to be a competent, safe, capable diver. I am not perfect, I am not bullet-proof. But, I trust that i am a diver that any other competent, safe, capable diver would be comfortable diving with.
I really am not concerned with what equipment configuration another diver may choose - UNLESS they are one of my students, in which case I will make every effort to persuade them to consider my parti\cular configuration as a possible approach that they should choose. I am OK with whatever someone else dives. I know WHAT I do, and - more to the point - WHY I do it. You do what you want. If you have a good reason foir what you do, and it is different from what I do, great. Help me see a better way. Otherwise, I continue to do what I do, and 'Dive and let dive'.