Because the shop I did my OW training with deals a lot with referals and such they have individually priced each section of the course so you can pay for your theory, CW and OW seperately which could be a useful exercise. I agree that some monies should be refunded if you don't complete the course because at least some of the course fee goes to the certification body to pay for the C-card, at least it does in PADI and why should you pay this money if you don't get the card. Also what if you get in the pool and decide okay sorry but this just isn't for me, should you have to still pay the certification fee and the instructor fees for an OW course you didn't do?
I was very nervous about doing my training because I am clausterphobic, I explained this to my instructor and I paid for the theory and CW sections of the course. That meant that if I didn't complete the course the instructor was paid for the work he did and I didn't end up paying him for work he didn't do.
Before anyone jumps down my throat about earning certs not paying for them, I agree that this is true in terms of your diving after you have paid for your training and exams, but PADI charges for certification, a charge generally built into the cost of the course and if you don't make it why should you have to pay it?
Obviously there are situations where this isn't necessarily the case, a diver who refuses to learn, or lies about a medical condition or something along those lines they should have to pay full fees for wasting an instructors time.
As far as the weight belt issue goes believe me I would have no probs dropping mine. I'd rather be an embarressed and breathing diver than a dead weighted one
Weights can be recovered/replaced, lives can't. It really is that simple to me!