Thank you all, very helpful. While i tend to be a technical tinkering/geek in some things, that inclination does not seem to extend to diving. I will likely establish a single tank set-up that I am comfortable with to carry me through the next 10 year until I am 70, the good Lord willing. One of the primary reasons I am buying the BCD/Reg is to establish a fixed set-up to use dive after dive. I got into that predictable space in April with rental gear when we did 26 dives in 6 days of diving in Bonaire and I really liked it. Now, if I was a younger man...
I read a post on FB Scuba Divers that really resonated for me. The thread was, have you ever aborted a dive based on the pre-dive briefing. It made me think about my limits and risk tolerance. Back in December in grand Cayman I had a dive master plan a 120' deep swim through. He and I were on Nitrox, he said it would be fine. I declined (my limit for Nitrox is 100' - I know, I know) and ask for an alternate route which he was very cool with. Funny part is as people geared up 3 others found their way to me and asked if they could stay with me. All good, i know my limits, have nothing to prove to anyone and am very happy to be just enjoying diving at this point.
On the Corolla/Corvette comparison, if I was driving Boston to FL 100% I would pick the Corolla. More reliable, comfortable, fuel efficient, safer, cost efficient, lower profile with police and nefarious characters and just better suited and practical for that journey. Granted far less cool, but sitting on the floor makes my back hurt.