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I dont really teach the tank lift method either, IMHO it's not really that practical. When your primary air source is lost, switch to your alternate life support system before trying to find your primary. When I first started out, there were many a time when a student ran out of breath (in confined water) before finding their primary. I think also teaching the student to grab their alternate first is much easier and less intimidating or for lack of a better word, "scary." If you are a new student and you hear that you have to remove your regulator, that can be daunting! But if someone is really paranoid about loosing their regulator, then I suggest getting a regulator necklace... giving piece of mind for the low price of $6.99!
Good point about using your own octo first. I've heard only one (of our many) instructors mention that for a real life situation. I've heard that the reason for the "tank lift' method is in case your reg. gets caught up in back somewhere and the arm sweep method fails. Again--the octo. I found that because I have an issue with my shoulders at times, I find it nearly impossible to grab the reg hose right next to the tank valve--but no problem if I just reach a bit down from there and grab the hose.