Well this is an interesting thread. But one of the few statements I could agree with 100% was something to the effect that if your configuration works for you, then it works.
I am a whole lot more comfortable giving a lot of thought to my diving and the specific requirements and risks it involves and then configuring accordingly, than I am adopting a philosophy wholesale because just because someone says. However I am also open minded and do not object to rejecting a long held idea or technique in favor of a new one when one comes along that makes sense for what I do. No one knows it all or has the ultimate answer to every scenario no matter how experienced they are - even if they are DIR.
Ironically tech diving has been responsible for most of the advances in recreational diving. Yet some of the current crop of tech divers get hung up on eliminating all possible failure points. If this had been the case all along, no one would have ever pushed nitrox or trimix to their current levels of acceptance due to the potential to mix them incorrectly and due to the potential for an 02 hit if the wrong mix is used too deep - serious potential failure points. For those too young to remember, this was a big issue and those using nitrox and trimix were widely regarded as irresponsible cowboys and were subject to as much critisim as many tech divers of late like to heap upon others with new or different ideas. That's too bad as it was the willingness to accept the new and different that made tech diving (and rec diving) what it is today.
In my opinion some balance is required, and some folks are just a little too far removed from a balanced, well thought out common sense approach to gear configuration. But I can live with that as I don't tell them how to dive as long as they don't feel the need to tell me how to dive.
To be honest though, I do get a little concerned for the safety of divers of any sort who go from OW to trimix in 50 or a 100 dives - they may have a lot of great training but they have very little in terms of the experience needed to give them the common sense and judgement to use the training effectively. In my opinion training, in and of itself, is not a good substitute for experience.
In other news, I can confirm that in fact the medium sized fastex buckles on your shoulder straps can be easily released in 38 degree water with dry gloves but need to add that small ones cannot be easily undone. Buckles on someone else gear are usually even less of a problem as you can see what you are doing.
I also find fastex buckles to be very useful in getting a tired diver out of their equipment and up the ladder and onto the deck. The diver is also not normally upset at having to re do the buckles for the second dive like they are if you cut their straps after the first dive.
I also have no problem with the reliability of velcroed weight pouches as long as you keep the velcro clean and replace it if it gets worn. It also helps to use an appropriately sized stiff plastic sheet to aid in fully inserting the pouches with your well maintained velcro.
