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maybe you're right on with liability.
maybe they don't want to give people the idea of experimenting on their on. I have a feeling that a lot of it is 'pressure' from the manufacturer. I know of one shop that will sell about any reg parts kit it stocks, but only had one brand kit sold online with 'add to cart' option.
with the you have to phone and ask for it option, it keeps it off the internet and out of the obvious problems of manufacturer direct hassling the dive shop.
Yes, and it makes you wonder how a gray market retailer gets such effective pressure from the mgfr!! 10 years ago, DiveInn sold Scubapro (Mare & Aqualung also I believe) parts on their web site at great prices. Apparently SP shut them down at least from a USA destination standpoint. I believe some EU countries will not allow mfgrs to restrict the sale of such parts. But, again, sources in GE are no longer allowed to ship to the USA. And with the falling dollar, it's cheaper to buy the in the back alley now anyway.
I believe the mfgr restrict the sale of parts to divers as a means to force us (divers) to do frequent business with their (mfgr) real customers, the LDS. Thankfully, some are starting to break from the herd.