Things are a bit more organized today (that's a photo from 95) but I think the benefit of something reflective on the hood is pretty easy to appreciate.
Bjorn
P.S: I also have yellow stripes painted on my black fins. While they didn't win style points in Fundies, they've sure been useful (like on dive boats when there is a giant stack of black turtle fins, I always know which are mine. ).
Oh, and my fundies instructor had a glue DUI suit. Go figgure
I like the reflective hood. I've seen the benefits of IR reflective panels on kevlar helmet covers in the field. The Army's current uniform has these on the shoulder pockets as well. The hood is something I'm now considering.
For your fins, what type of paint did you use? From dirt-bike riding, I've known folks using Krylon Fusion. It adheres to plastics (like ABS body panels) quite well. May be good for fins and not flake too much.
Bri