In case you missed it this is a zombie thread and the diver you replied to here hasn’t been on SB since 2011. And if still diving almost certainly is no longer new.From one newbie to another.
I did my first 2 weeks, 17 dives in a jacket, then i needed to buy stuff and went for a BP/W.
The setup is kindof intiutive, you need to know what way to put in the straps buy it is easy.
The surfade thing is not any real problem, you just float on your back, putting all the bladder in the water, realy not any problem. You just do it.