I don't think you and I are really dissagreeing on anything. My big point is that with the Air II, or with a long hose and bungeed back up, the new diver needs to be trained on it, and to practice once in a while.
It does not appear as though there has been ANY development of AIR II training or ideas of air share drilling, or even of shops caring/knowing/aware enough to ensure the AIR II purchasers have a long hose for the primary they will now end up donating. And seriously, a minimum wage kid working in a dive shop, thinking about when he is off for his date tonight--just how much thought is he going to give to a new customer buying an Air II ? Given there is no "PUSH" to offer any special advice with it, this gear will be rung up, and out the door, and there will be no discussion or advice given.
If I was the mfg, AIR II, then I would put out a youtube video on optimal configuration ( i.e., how long the primary should be) , how to donate the primary and use of the Air II as backup reg. The video would also promote the idea of periodic air airshare drills, and could even UTILIZE the example of DIR divers as doing this, to point out that it is not due to a gear limitation, but it is a BEST PRACTICE for any divers, and a Good Gear Company Cares about it's divers using BEST PRACTICES........Then, I would try to get every dealer to push this video link, and every dealer to ensure that it goes with every purchase ( certainly they could put the link prominently on the box the AirII comes in).
If this was to happen, it would shut most of us up