I started with a standard BCD went to a back inflate BCD and have moved to a Back Plate and Harness and will not go back!
Simply put Its a cool as Legos with out all the hassles.
Pros
- Interchangeable. I can swap between my Steel plate and plastic plates if i am diving our cold waters or diving tropical conditions.
- Interchangeable. I can go from diving my single tank to diving my doubles with in seconds by changing out my wing, no need to own two different setups.
- User replaceable. If i happened to cut my wing i can have a new bladder installed with in hours ( my LDS stocks them ).. no need to go out and rebuy a whole new BCD or ship it to the company to have it replaced.
- Clutter free.... yes wearing it right and diving the gear i feel is needed means my rig is clutter flee and everything has its place and i know exactly where it is when i need it.
- No buoyancy.. Unlike standard BCD with all the gimics and unnecessary padding and such witch just requires you to add more weight to get your ass down a standard backplate and wing does not have it.
-Fully adjustable.. Unlike a BCD when you decide to drop some weight or put on some weight or sell it your stuck with that size! A Back plate and wing can be taken in or for $20 replace the webbing to whatever size you wish to have. Makes the resale of the product that much easier... not that many who go to the system resell them
Cons..
- A little less comfy when out of the water carrying it back and forth to the water.
- When its not fitted correctly it can be difficult to don and dof however when it is fitted right should not be an issue.
Other than that i don't see how a standard BCD can benefit anyone outside of a Back plate and harness but that is my personal experience, and of course if anyone local to me is looking to get into one i would be more than happy to work with you and do what i can to assist.