You do not need to buy the most expensive regulator. All current regulators from the major brands are "good" and most are excellent at all price points.
For cold/dirty water an environmentally sealed diaphragm first stage is nice to have.
If you plan to advance into technical diving look at the Scubapro G260 with a Mark 19 or Mark 25 first stages.
If you want price to performance and light for travel the Aqua Lung Core Supreme (was the Titan LX).
If you want a top of the line regulator for recreational diving that is at the very top of the performance heap, the Aqua Lung Legend series, any of them.
If you want a cheap but absolutely reliable regulator a Scubapro R195 or an Aqua Lung Titan.
If you want to possibly service your own equipment (you can service any equipment but some brands make it easier to get parts as a consumer) you might look at Dive-Rite, Hog, Deep Six etc.
There is no need to over complicate your choice. A major brand that has parts and service support everywhere might be important to a traveling diver, a tech diver who mostly does local diving might prefer something they can service themselves and matches their buddies equipment for interchangeabilty, not generally a factor for recreational SCUBA. Do not allow the "it is life support equipment" sway you into buying regulaotrs based on $ amounts as being supposedly better. An AL Core will breath as easily as a Scubapro G260 at half the price point, I know because I own a Core and have dived a G260. And I want a G260 badly, not because I need one but just because I am a regulator nut! And my wife's Legend breaths easier and very slightly smoother than either, all are rated excellent in the ANSTI WOB tests.
James
