[smiffy6four]

I recently purchased an ex-rental reg from my LDS, along with a new bc, fins, yada, yada.
I decided to go my local lake and do a bouyancy test with my new wetsuit, etc. So I mount the bottle on the BC, attach the reg, and check everything over, look at hoses, and I find that my HP hose from the reg to the gauges has several big splits in it! (this is supposedly an ex-rental, tested, inspected, etc unit). Needless to say, I'm not getting wet with this rig. So I pack everything in the car, drive the 1:45 to the LDS that sold me the $1,500 worth of gear and asked the owner how this was let out his front door in the obviously unsafe condition?? He has the nerve to tell me that it's OK, it's JUST a protective rubber layer that has split. Surely, I want it fully protected, I say. He says nope, it's fine, nothing to worry about. He says that they use them like that on there in-pool instruction all the time. I'm now trying hard not lose my cool; I suggest he go down a hundred feet or so with it and see if he feels comfortable. Seems he doesn't even have a new hose in stock, but will get one and in the meantime, happy diving.

Someone tell me that I'm being unreasonable here, in not trusting the guy?