It's interesting that, in this report, the diver recommends kinking the hose, and wishes that he had done so rather than ascend to the surface and miss mandatory staged decompression.
I'm really glad you posted this - proves my point. As the author says in the article, second stages are natural OPVs - however, adding a defective/corroded inflator valve with a "all the way tight" second stage, and he got a freeflow into his wing rather than out of his second stage on that post. I am not surprised... I've had an inflator valve leak into a wing before at NORMAL IP. The solution is to fix it. If it happens to you during a dive, then disconnect the power inflator. If you can't do that, then the result is obvious. Notice that none of these solutions include adding an OPV on the first stage - which wouldn't correct a leaking inflator at normal pressure anyway.
Not sure what your point here is, since the power inflator did not vent... But if you were trying to point out that the second stage did not freeflow at 270 psi with the knobs fully detuned, then I am surprised but not wholly shocked. Keep going and yes, it'll vent. And no, nothing's going to explode.
Bottom line, some inflators will bypass with high IP's, some won't. Take your chances.
Chances for what? If your wing begins to self-inflate, then disconnect the LP hose and vent. What's the problem? The fact that he was unable to do this in an emergency situation proves that the problem was that he was unable to do the skill, not that he needed an OPV. In the same way, if your car runs into a telephone pole, the solution would be to learn to use the brakes, not to put a device on the car that limits it's speed to 35 mph.
After we heard this, I think everyone in our little group who has Apeks regs bought IP gauges if they didn't already own them. An OPV wouldn't be a bad idea, but just backing the 2nd stage from fully detuned seemed to allow them to freeflow and obviating the need for an OPV.
...So you found that a certain skill kept you from needing another device. Good for you! My point exactly.
Alternatively, this guy would have avoided the accident if:
1. His gear had not been contaminated, and thus not working properly ("pre" option to avoid the issue).
2. As you pointed out, he had not "detuned" his second stage ("skill" option or "technique" option to avoid the issue).
3. He had been able to disconnect his power inflator (first option to deal with issue).
4. He had been able to shut down his right post (a second option to deal with issue).
5. He had kinked his inflator hose (a last option, IMHO - not really "right," but definitely effective).
