I happen to like the Airsource when I'm using my "integrated" BC (as opposed to my BP/W). I like the simplification of gear.
That said, your take away from this to get rid of the Airsource is, I think, the wrong take away. The problem wasn't that you donated a working reg (the one in your mouth) but that another (useless?) bit of gear screwed you up.
First point to make: I agree that this is the wrong thing to take away from the experience, however, it can be an enlightening revelation, as well (revealing the fact that an integrated air source might not be right for you long term). It's always best to use gear that you can be comfortable with and efficient.
I know a bit off-topic but I thought I'd answer on this one. When purchasing my BC I got the integrated airsource because I thought it was a simplification of gear (I purchased full gear right after OW). Then, during rescue I ended up having to use it a few times in the ocean and pool. I hated that thing. No matter how much I practiced, it was always not located where my instincts wanted it to be. When I finally found it, it was hard to get into my mouth. The "pull" on the tube was strong enough that it often came out of my mouth or was otherwise hard to keep in my mouth and twice, when practicing on a normal leizure dive for those "just-in-case" moments, I found that either a) I didn't adequately connect the LP hose (nothing worse then breathing in on it when the hose disconnects) or 2) some equipment was faulty.
In the LA ADP program, once you learn rescue (like week 6 of 10), every dive after that is a prime candidate for the safety divers, dive masters, or instructors to pull a panicked diver, unresponsive diver, or whatever at depth by surprise. There were usually a minimum two dives a weekend if not more (pool or ocean). And before ocean dives, there was a fair amount of skin diving and lots of surface swimming.
I ditched the integrated airsource and went octo and never regretted the decision. Further, I ditched the BC and went BP/W and am glad I did (I lost so much weight in ADP that my BC popped off on me over my head one night when I went vertical and stretched my arms up to reach for a fish -- at 50" - only the reg in my mouth kept it from surfacing -- and I started ADP with that thing so tight I almost couldn't breath). Incidentally, that was the same dive that just moments after my brand new Cobra 2 dive computer died at 50" and my only compass (digital) also went out with it -- on the first dive.
Different strokes for different folks, but I learned that if I'm going to manage a rescue, I wanted comfortable primary gear, and the integrated air source was truly annoying me in ways that I can't begin to express. I always used in my training classes what I will use in my own dives except OW rentals.
My wife on the other hand, won't be found without her integrated air source and hates the octo.
Thanks,
Shawn
