I wanted to step in and interject on AP Valves behalf.
1) 8 - 12 Deaths diving these CCR's.
You will find quite a few deaths have occured diving other brands of CCR's including CIS Lunar and CCR 2000.
2) Safety features?
What exactley are you looking for? I have found the best safety feature is the person diving the CCR.
3) Things to "NOT" do with a CCR.
How about anything that you "aren't" trained to do. Such as, dive Trimix when you haven't taken the "Trimix CCR" course.
4) I don't recall Ricks last name, but he is all over the IANTD Rebreather section of their website. Diving a CIS Lunar he had some serious problems, where he almost became a statistic diving that CCR.
5) Why am I so defensive? I own a Buddy. Simple and computerized. I haven't done alot research on other rebreathers, I stopped when I saw the CCR 2000 could operate at an altitude of 14000 Ft and a Depth of 2000FSW. My buddy operates between 14000 Ft and 300FSW according AP Valves. But I would trust it with my life to 500FSW.
6) At $5500.00, dual processors, 3xO2 sencors and up to nine hours worth of canster to breath from, you can't beat it. Just don't get creative and follow the rules and your training.
7) Remember, When you get a CCR certification you are a weeny!, when you have 200 hours on your unit you are promoted to novice.
8) In my opinion, if you don't think like this you could kill yourself.